Tired of Waiting? #FB

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

or, in other words...

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

TNIV

Ever get tired of it all?

~Tired of working hard and seeing few or little results?

    ~Tired of investing in others and not seeing the rewards you hoped for when you started out?

         ~Tired of one "dangled carrot" after another?

You can even fill in the blank, I'm sure, of the area(s) where you most struggle to keep on keepin' on. I know I can.

I've been in full-time ministry, really most of my life, but officially since 2005. I can't even count how many times I've used the term "dangled carrot" in my talks with Stephen and close friends as it relates to ministry and family dreams that seem unfulfilled at worst, and partially fulfilled at best. We experience times of wondering, did we really hear from God? Is this still what we're supposed to be doing? It seems whenever we begin to think we're making some progress in one area, something happens to dash our hopes and pressure us to give up.

There have been many times when I've battled with the temptation to quit. I have often struggled with guilt when I would hear others declare that they never get tired of the work they do. That they don't allow themselves to get discouraged. I would begin to pack my bags, because I knew I was about to go on a guilt trip.

But then I heard a hero and mentor of mine say, "God doesn't give brownie points for not giving in to sin you aren't tempted to do." (Bill Thrall)

Recently I had a coffee date with my dear friend, Ginger Garrett. I always love getting together with her. She is a breath of fresh air. She is wise and genuine and humble and funny and just an absolute delight to everyone she comes in contact with. Not to mention the fact that she is an incredible author and communicator. What a woman! I count it a privilege indeed to be her friend and to have her as my friend. She said something that continues to echo in my mind:

"God always does the most loving thing."

God IS love. So, He won't necessarily do what I want Him to do. What I prefer He does. What I beg, cry out, and even try to convince Him to do. He won't necessarily do what makes me most comfortable or even happy. But, I can absolutely, unequivocally bank on the fact that He WILL do the best, most loving, thing. Always. For me. For my husband. For my children. And, yes, for YOU.

As I've contemplated these different statements, I realized even just last week, that these things I was visualizing as "dangled carrots" are in reality, more like sign posts along the journey to lead me along the path God has for me. In His love, He sends me one sign post after another. He doesn't give me dead-end dangled carrots that I'll never be able to reach. He sends me one sign after the next and each one is guiding me to the intended destination. Each one is part of the journey. Each one is meaningful and purposeful.

This "a-ha!" discovery or realization is truly enabling me to enjoy where I'm at on the way to where I'm going. This is helping me to trust my God that much more with each step of this journey. This is helping me to believe more wholeheartedly that HE is enjoying ME through each step of this maturing process because He is both the initiator and sustainer of the entire process.

So, as I go about this personal journey my God has created just for me, I keep the map (the vision He has given me) in view, and I allow His voice to guide me from one stop on the journey to the next. This helps me to walk in trust. With determination. Without fear of failure (for we've all heard that God allows U-turns when we make a mistake!) I can trust Him for the necessary detours and stops along the way. He is indeed working from and for eternity. He is in no rush.

What a precious thing is this Christian life. Not just a life that lives forgiven and free; but a life that is continually being transformed into who we were intended to be all along. What a gift!

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." or in another translation "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint..." May it never be said of us that we allowed the vision to become invisible to us or hidden from us by our own unbelief. Keep it before you. Consider the Message paraphrase which says,

If people can't see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.

So, where does God have you on your journey? Please don't give up! Hang on to Him and hang in there. Each sign post is leading you to a place that is more amazing than you could have ever dreamed or imagined. I'm on this journey with you. Please pray that I won't give up or lose sight of the vision either. I would love to hear from you! Take a moment and write to me using the comment form available.
Don't give up! He who promised IS faithful!!

*A repost

Greatest Hits Series features Most Read Post in this blog's history

It's been so great revisiting some of the posts that have had the biggest impact on those of you who read this blog. I chose to post the ones with the "greatest" number of views or "hits," and I've said the one with the most (by far!) for last. 


So, here with go with the Final in this week's series, "Greatest Hits!"


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I'm SO honored and thrilled to introduce this amazing woman to you....that is if you don't already know her. She is one of the most engaging, authentic, joy-filled and gracious women I know. And we've never even been in the same place at the same time. One of the great things about technology is that it connects us to people we wouldn't otherwise get to know. 


Most of you, if you've followed anything I've done in the past 5 years or so, have heard me mention regularly (possibly even obnoxiously?) John Lynch with Truefaced and Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, AZ. John and his fabulous wife, Stacey, have done an incredible job leading many, many people into a greater understanding of grace, authentic community, and living out of who God says we are. Imagine getting to be their kid. Right? Wow. Well, since we don't all get that honor, I wanted to introduce you to someone who does have that honor:


Meet Amy Lynch Reid!

Hope Changes Everything

"Hope" is a feeling of expectation or a desire for something to happen. I think about how disappointing it can be to be hopeful for things- to hope for a raise; for a friend to pursue you back; for your car to start running better, etc. We hope, and desire, and expect these things, and so many more, to happen. And when they don't, we feel discouraged and hurt and let-down. Hoping can be scary and risky. But when we put our hope in the Lord, He doesn't disappoint. It is so beautiful to experience this first hand, to trust that there is someone to put your hope in who will not let you down.

I am a super happy, joyful, positive, energetic almost-24-year-old girl. I love life- I love traditions and holidays and surprises and all the little moments that make life special. I don't have many down days. But just in this last year, my life got really shaken up. A series of really hard situations put me in a bad place. Circumstantially, my life seemed like it was upside down. And as someone who has had very few sad days in her life, I was contemplating antidepressants. I couldn't make sense of my life. I couldn't get a grip of my emotions. I couldn't find my way out of my disappointment and hurt.

I started reading through the Bible in a year in January. And a few months ago, I got to Job. I've always known the story of Job, but it's never been something I could relate to. He experienced so much suffering; so much was taken away from him; he couldn't figure out why or find answers to his situation. But after all of his loss and suffering, he says "you have redeemed my soul and I will live to enjoy the light." I kept reading and re-reading this verse. Regardless of his unfortunate circumstances, he was choosing to live for the light of Christ. I was reminded that in my darkest days, when nothing seems to make sense, He is absolutely enough! When I choose to put my hope in Him, it changes EVERYTHING. He has always been and will always be enough. If every other piece of my life falls apart; if I lose everything...I can still find joy by putting my hope in Him. He promises to protect those who love Him. And He does. He has taken such good care of me, especially on those dark days when I cry out to Him. I will continue to put my hope in Him because it really does CHANGE EVERYTHING!


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More about Amy, in her own words...


My name is Amy Reid. I'm 23 years old. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona; nurtured and protected by one of the sweetest communities on earth. I moved to California for college when I was 17. I met a California boy, fell in love, and got married in 2009. I'm now a California girl, living in Alta Loma, with my handsome husband, Danny, and our adorable dog, Dupree. The things that make my world spin 'round are: my faithful Jesus, my flat-out awesome family, my precious husband, and my addiction to Starbucks, chocolate, and all things fun!

Greatest Hits Series continues with a great post by @shasherslife

Number 4 in this "Greatest Hits" Series features an incredible message from Shannon Mischuk, our friend on the North side of the border! I am confident your heart will resonate with Shannon's on the topic she chose in a guest blog series from 2010.

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Shannon Mischuk is…..

Who?

I have been staring at a blank screen for a few weeks now, trying to write my simple bio for this guest post. It got me thinking though… who am I?  I can hear the theme music to CSI: Las Vegas playing in the background of my mind…

My usual tagline starts with, “I’m the Pastor’s Wife and Mother of 4…” but is that who I am? Is that where my value comes from?

Don’t worry; I’m not going through a mid-life crisis. 

I’ve been a Pastor’s Wife for 14½ years and a mother for 12 and I love it – it brings me great joy but is that what defines me?

I have spoken to too many women over the years that after motherhood especially; find it difficult because they feel that they have lost a piece of themselves. They go through an identity crisis of sorts as their children age, where they don’t know who they are any longer, they’ve become, “just a Mom”.

Does my value come from external circumstances / situations or does it come from knowing Jesus?

When your value is wrapped up in what you do; whether that is teaching Sunday school, being a CEO, pastoring a church, singing in the choir, or being a wife or mother… if any of these cease to exist, or change in anyway, our value of who you are, crumbles with it.

You have to ask yourself, “Who does God say I am?”

The Bible says in 1 John 3:1a, “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are…”

It’s not cliché to say, “I’m the daughter of the King” because that is what I am – through Christ Jesus!

·         I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)

·         I am loved (1 John 3:3)

·         I am accepted (Ephesians 1:6)

·         I am established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21)

·         I am God’s co-worker (2 Corinthians 6:1)

·         I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

·         I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1)

·         I am complete in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:10)

·         I have been created to prosper! (Psalms 1:3)

And I could go on…

My value comes from knowing who I am in Jesus Christ, which comes from knowing God intimately. When you understand who you are in Christ Jesus -- your circumstances in life may change but you will have a solid foundation for which stand upon.  

Your identity doesn’t depend on something you do or have done. Your true identity is who you are in Christ. Through Jesus you are a new creation, the old has passed away and all things become new.

It’s time to stop limiting yourself by what you and/or what others may think of you, what you do or have done and take a hold of the truth of what God says about you.

So let me ask you…. “Who Are You?!”

Shannon Mischuk

 

Shannon Mischuk lives in Kitchener, Ontario Canada with her hot hubby and four fabulous children. If you hang around her, you’ll hear her say things like, “My children will rise up and call their Mother blessed” and “In this family, we build each other up”. She enjoys her life to the fullest and the journey that God has them on as a family.

Connect with Shannon!

Blog: http://www.shasherslife.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/shasherslife

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Shasherslife?ref=ts

New Song Church and World Outreach
site: www.newsong.ca

 

Greatest Hits Series featuring my own daughter with #Aspergers

As I began looking for the top posts (ones with the most page "hits"), I smiled when I saw my own daughter's up there in the Top 5. I'm so proud of her! So, for those who haven't met her, Here's Macey!

My life with Asperger Syndrome...

Do you ever feel different than everyone else?
 I'm sure you do, I'm  different too. 
 I have Asperger Syndrome. I think
 differently than others, when people  talk or
 whenever I'm reading something I always think in pictures, I don't 
 have to try and picture things in my mind, it just comes naturally.


That's why whenever my family talks to me they usually have to explain
 what  their saying to me. For example about a month ago my mom  
said to  me "I'm so busy I wish I could be cut into three pieces" and I
  just looked at her and said "What?!?" Having asperger Syndrome is 
good in some ways but there are also alot of things that are not good,
 and that I have to get help with due to me having Asperger  Syndrome.

People who have Asperger Syndrome have anger issues and get ticked
off VERY easy by others, it's not that we want or try to be mean,we truly
can't help it. Whenever I get mad at my older sister, I would normally
scream at her or throw something at her; my mother said that instead
of treating others with such behavior I need to tell them what they did
wrong, and why I didn't like it. The problem with me is I can't stand
when someone tells me what to do, and whenever I do something
wrong I'm usually very defensive, I've been seeing a counselor who
 helps those with Asperger Syndrome, his name is Charlie. I'm
learning how let my anger settle down alot and things I can do to
 help, It's not like count to ten and take deep breaths, it's I need
 to be in a room alone where I cannot be bothered at all by anyone,
sometimes I just need a brake from people, most of the time they
don't even do anything wrong I just get irritated by almost anything
 and it's not even funny. I can't stand when somebody constantly
 pokes me or taps my shoulder it makes me want to scream at
 them and say get your hand off me before I bite it off! I'm not
 trying to be funny while I tell you what I have to deal with, I truly
 hate having Asperger Syndrome. I get in trouble constantly and
 I normally have no clue what I did that was so bad/wrong, see
 that's the thing with Asperger's, I think differently than others
and I have seriously bad anger issues. I've matured alot in the
 past few years, but when I was younger, my family had no clue
 what Asperger Syndrome was and I'd be grounded almost every
 month. Now that I'm almost fifteen, you'd think my punishments
 would be much harsher, well think again I already have to deal
 with Asperger Syndrome for the rest of my life, and my mom
 understands, so she give me punishments that will not hurt me,
 but help me.

Since I have Asperger Syndrome I'm not really allowed to be eating
gluten  foods like wheat products because gluten foods, or foods
with gluten  in them make the disorder I have alot worse than it is already,
but the good news is, I can eat healthier because I'm not eating pizza,
white bread, or biscuits. Although I eat some wheat products I don't
eat alot and I rarely ever eat any at all.

The amazing thing about having Asperger Syndrome is, most people
who create such amazing things have Asperger Syndrome, I'm not
 lying but the world would be extremely boring if there were no
people with Asperger Syndrome. The man who created Facebook
 has Asperger Syndrome, and Temple Grandin who  is the most
 famous person with Autism created a machine for cows to go into
 when they get turned into yummy hamburgers. (Asperger Syndrome
 is form of Autism).

People who have Asperger Syndrome usually have something they
love to do more than anything else, it's something that calms you
down and just relaxes you, in my case I have two things, I love to
 sing and swing. I can be as mad or as sad as ever and if I do
 either one of these things all the feelings just vanish and it brings
happyness to me.

People who have Asperger Syndrome are extremely sensitive to
things not just emotionally but mainly physically, and their
imagination is so strong you never can tell if your dreaming
or if something is real, for example my old house was never
 haunted and isn't haunted now, but whenever I was alone,
and only when I was alone, I would hear my name and a
 tapping on my shoulder, it scared me to death cause I truly
 couldn't tell if it was real or not. I'm also very picky with
 texture I can't stand to wear tight clothes or anything ichy
 no matter how cute I thought it was. I also hate wearing pajama
 pants to sleep because I tend to move around ALOT in my sleep
 and I hate when my pajama pants go up to my thighs, so I sleep
 with pajama shorts instead, even in the cold winter. Since i'm so
 picky with texture, I can't stand quite alot of foods, I will not eat
anything sea food except some fish (Tilapia, Tuna, and Salmon)
and I dont really like the texture of that either. I won't eat anything
 if someone else touched it, even if it was my mom or my best friend.
 It's not anyone's fault that I refuse to eat after them that's just the
way Asperger Syndrome people are. About a month ago my little
 brother and his friend were over at our new house and he wouldn't
stop playing in my spaghetti, so I yelled at him, which is way nicer
 than what I wanted to do to him. Since I'm so sensitive to things,
it's impossible for me to swallow pills, I've tryed a million times and
it just won't go down.

This is the life of having Asperger Syndrome. My anger issues,
my sensitivity, my way of calming down, what I can and cannot do,
 and just everything that I have to deal with is not only hard for me
 to deal with but also my family. The best thing to have around a
person with Asperger Syndrome is patience. :)

Greatest Hits Series Part 2 featuring @CindyBeall #FB

I have been so fortunate to get to share this blog space with some amazing people and so I've decided to re-post some of the best posts in case you may have missed them in the past, or just need them once again. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. ;-)

So without further ado, I present to you Installment #2 in "The Greatest Hits" Series with a humble, real, and powerful word from Cindy Beall!

 Blessings!!




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I love, love, love how God connects us with people, don't you? I think it's pretty cool how He isn't afraid to use Social Media to do just that. ;-) When I asked my new friend, Cindy Beall, if she'd like to join the party, I was thrilled when she said yes. I was blown away when I read what she shared. You will be, too. 

I don't know what you're going through. But this I do know: Hope really does change everything!

Meet Cindy Beall!

How Hope Changed Me

By Cindy Beall

Hope.

An expectation of obtainment. To expect with confidence.

I hope that I get that promotion.

I hope that my children don’t get hurt.

I hope that I find an amazing man to marry.

Everybody hopes in something. For something. If they say they don’t, they’re lyin’.

Just sayin’.

I hoped that one day I’d find my knight in shining armor. I didn’t know when he’d arrive on my doorstep so while I waited for him, I made a list of things that I desired my future husband to possess. Tall. Musical. Loves Jesus. Sensitive. Funny. Respectable. Admirable. Honest. Trusting. Protecting. Handsome.

I hoped for a lot.

Finally, he found me. And I found him. We were smitten with each other from our very first date. Apparently, he liked me so much that, unbeknownst to me, he put a down payment on my wedding ring the next day. And ten months later, I got a new last name.

American author, Catherine Marshall said, “God is the only one who can make the valley of trouble a door of hope.” I had no idea how applicable this quote would be in my life one day. But nine years into our marriage, everything crumbled. Actually, it crumbled before that but I just didn’t know it. I’d come to find out that for a period of about two years, my husband, Chris, acted out on his very sordid addiction to pornography and committed multiple acts of infidelity. The day he confessed all of this to me was the worst day of my life. I came to realize that it was just the first of many worse days in my life.

My marriage died. So did my hope.

But then God. On the days when I could barely lift my head from the pillow, God gave me strength. When the images would come flooding into my mind, God gave me peace. When the pain bombarded me and suffocated me like a blanket in 100° weather, God comforted me.

He will provide the same for you. Strength. Peace. Comfort. Hope.

Now I can’t promise that He will remove the storms from your life. I can’t promise that you’ll have a comfortable, pain-free existence on this earth. I can’t promise that you’ll get everything you want and dream for.

What I can promise is that when you are weak, He’ll be strong. When you think you can’t take another step, He’ll carry you. When you are in despair, He’ll be your hope. We find these truths in Isaiah 40:30-31:

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Hope in the Lord.

Hope in the Lord.

Hope in the Lord.

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click book to order

Cindy Beall is a writer, mentor and speaker to women. She and her husband, Chris, speak openly about their difficult journey through Chris’ infidelity and pornography addiction that nearly destroyed their marriage and ministry. Through God’s grace they have inspired thousands of couples and have returned to full-time ministry where Chris serves as the Oklahoma City Campus Pastor at LifeChurch.tv and Cindy leads the women’s ministry on their campus. Her first book, Healing Your Marriage When Trust Is Broken, released July 1, 2011, with Harvest House Publishers.  www.cindybeall.com

Greatest Hits Series Begins TODAY! Featuring @KarolLadd #FB

I have been so fortunate to get to share this blog space with some amazing people and so I've decided to re-post some of the best posts in case you may have missed them in the past, or just need them once again. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. ;-)

So without further ado, I present to you "The Greatest Hits" Series beginning with a great message from Karol Ladd!

 Enjoy!!




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From the "Hope Changes Everything" series, Fall 2011:

I am so thankful for my wonderful friends who have been willing to share their Hope stories with all of us. You will definitely be encouraged as Karol shares her Hope Changes Everything insight here:



Thank you, Karol!! This chick appreciates you so much!

About Karol

Dynamic, Deliberate, Delightful

Karol Ladd is known as “the Positive Lady.” Her heart’s desire is to inspire women with a message of lasting hope and Biblical truth. Karol is open, honest and real in both her speaking and her writing.

Formerly a teacher, Karol is the best-selling author of over 25 books including The Power of a Positive Mom,The Power of a Positive Woman and Thrive, Don’t Simply Survive.

As a gifted communicator and dynamic leader, Karol is a popular speaker to women’s organizations, church groups and corporate events across the nation. Karol teaches a Bible study in North Dallas called the Positive Woman Connection, and her lessons are offered on DVD through Harvest House Publishers. Karol is a frequent guest on radio and television programs.

Her most valued role is that of wife to Curt and mother to daughters Grace and Joy

Find Karol online at www.karolladd.com and find all her social networking connections there as well!

New Series for this next week: Greatest Hits! #FB

I have been so fortunate to get to share this blog space with some amazing people and so I've decided to re-post some of the most viewed posts (i.e. "Greatest Hits") in case you may have missed them in the past, or just need them once again. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. There is definitely something to be said for repetition. *Wink*

So, make sure to come back beginning Monday, 2/20/12 to hear from these amazing women:
Karol Ladd
Shannon Mischuk
Amy Reid
Macey Pound
Cindy Beall

I know you'll be glad you did!