Psalms 62:5 “My soul, waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.”
Hi Church – It’s Deb here. Pastor Chris asked me to share this word in the all-church email this week. It’s based on what I heard the Lord say to me before Live Prayer a couple of weeks ago so bare with me if some of it sounds familiar. I was reading a Facebook Post created by my niece Stephanie, who is an English teacher and an amazing writer. She really allows the Holy Spirit to arrange her words so that they captivate and I love how the Lord used her situation with her teenager to speak right into my spirit as well, even though I’m passed those “teenager” years. She was essentially talking about the stress of being a mom to a teenager with “attitude”. Here’s an excerpt of the post: “I went to my room. Sat on my bed, and in an effort to quiet the racing of my mind, I opened my devotion. But before I read, something in me beckoned my heart to seek out hers. I called her into my room, motioned her to come close, opened my arms and watched my irritability soften as it held tightly to hers. There were no words; I just held her, and she just let me. And in an instant, the private irritation she thought she was so good at controlling came seeping out through her tears as she began to break in my arms. “The mounting stress, the piles of homework, friend issues and trying to manage it all”…She’s been trying to keep it together by holding it all in, but she doesn’t realize holding it in is what’s holding her down”? Right there – it hit me! Those words, paraphrased for the chorus of a new song I just had to write: Chorus: Doesn’t she know That holding on is what’s holding her down Doesn’t she know That life is all about letting go Doesn’t she know How could she know The Lord has really been working in me about “Letting Go” so when I read the words about “Holding On”, I knew this was His voice through the pen of my neice. It’s not just piles of homework and the stress of being a teenager. Even as adults, some of us are guilty (yet redeemed), of continuing to HOLD ON. We hold on to things, people, ideas, ways of thinking, etc…, far too long. We hold our emotions, stress, or frustration in until we’re going to explode. One of the positive attributes in my own personality is that I’m really good at “follow through” (which is another way of saying “holding on”). I’m persistent and I’ll persevere to the end. All good…..until it’s not. Until the Lord says….Let Go. And then it’s a cross-roads. Holding on is just easier. It’s comfortable. It’s like those old shoes that are worn out but they are our favorites. But when the Lord spoke to me about “Letting Go” this time, I really didn’t know what he wanted me to let go of. Fear, frustration, control. Oh yes. We have worked on those over the years. But the next word he gave me really took me by surprise and shook me a little. “EXPECTATIONS”. My gut felt this word rumble deep down….“I want you to Let Go of your Expectations”. So as I pondered a little, it wasn’t really “expectations” it was “MY Expectations”. How “I” thought things should be, what “I” thought was “right”. (Me, me, me. Not again Lord. I thought we got rid of that Debbi flesh. HA!) Don’t get me wrong - I think the Lord does want us to have expectations. He wants us to expect his return (Heb 9:28). He wants us to expect an answer to prayer (Ps 5:3). So what’s wrong with “MY Expectations”? I actually had to let go of the air that was filling my lungs with a sigh. Tears rolling down my face. “Expectations” were why Jesus was put to death on the cross. The Jewish people “expected” a warrior in their Messiah. They “expected” someone who would fight against the Roman empire and overthrow with force. They didn’t “expect” a meek, humble man. So when they were given the choice to save him from the cross, they said no and shouted “Give us Barabbas” (Matt 27:21) And now here I am, centuries later. Holding Jesus on that same cross because I expected things would be different. He would be different. I could feel the heat of my own heart burning as it skipped a beat. And yet – like he did with Peter after the rooster crowed three times, Jesus looks at me with compassion. So much compassion that I am compelled to “Let Go”, realize that holding on is what’s holding me down, breath in, exhale, and “Let God”. This message may or may not speak to you at this time in your life, but when I think about it, it might be appropriate for our church body as we prepare for our upcoming season of transition. I believe God wants us to hold on to him. Let our souls rest in Him alone. But I also believe he’s calling us to practice “letting go” with the gentle reminder that His ways are higher than our ways (Is 55:8-9). I pray that the Holy Spirit does fill us with expectation – but expectation that is drawn from Him alone, amen? God Bless, Deb PS – If you’re on Facebook, I encourage you to go read Stephanie’s “teenager attitude” post here: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.silvey.1/posts/10226417414282843) – and give her some love in the comments if you want. Hello my SPV family this is Jamie,
Job asks God, “Why Have You Made Me Your Target”? (Job 7:20) Recently the “why” question came into my mind. And, it was not even the “why me” question of something bad, it actually was “why am I so lucky” having a conversation with Jesus. And that really got me thinking about how much power that three letter word "why" has and how we use it! I raised my kids mostly single. I am telling you those days were hard. There were many days my only coping was to remind myself “none of my kids have leukemia today”. That is what I had to tell myself just to survive the day! But this whole WHY question just got me reeling a couple of weeks ago. Other times, during the kid raising years and later, frankly even today, when my spirit and faith wane, I cling to the “Mustard Seed” verse and am encouraged that I only need the faith of a mustard seed. And I also cling to fact that Job, even through all the trials STAYED FAITHFUL, and still asked ALL the same questions we do today! The Lord never left him, stayed patient, and continued to remind him he was favored and loved. I have learned some strong lessons in my life. Here is a really big one, just because I feel something, DOES NOT make it true! So when I am “feeling” less than; overwhelmed; stressed; or sad, I cling to my faith because The Lord is faithful and I know no matter what I am “feeling” it does not change who I am in Him! So I encourage you to consider “why am I so loved” “why am I so blessed” and "why am I so favored?” BECAUSE I belong to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord’s and because of Him I am truly loved and favored, just like Job! I am giving you some encouraging versus to ponder that I hope you will keep close to your heart during the “why me” times and turn them into the “why me” instead Blessings over you, and see you in person on Sunday, or virtually on-line! Blessed to be a blessing! Jamie Mayo Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast ? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Isaiah 40:31 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. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Happy February SPV Fam!
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