“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
Don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you
go;
He’s the one who will keep you on track.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Saturday, November 02, 2013
Worry Can’t Change Others
My guest today is Kathy Collard Miller. Her newest book, Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries has just released.
I've invited her to share a little about worry...something I can relate to. How about you? Be sure to leave a comment for Kathy and be entered for a chance to win a copy.
.jpg)
Worry Can't Change Others
Some of these worries may truly seem “worthy” of worry. Your mother may not know Christ as her Savior, and she has cancer. Your son may be on the street taking drugs. Your friend may demonstrate a lack of integrity at work. Another friend drives while intoxicated. You may have tried to reason, cajole, quote Scripture, even manipulate each person into changing their ideas and their behavior, but nothing has worked—not even prayer. God hasn’t changed them either. You fear something bad, really bad, is going to happen.
Even if it’s not a matter of something really bad occurring, we can easily take responsibility for someone else’s happiness and then respond in an unhealthy way. I recognized that possibility as we walked through the grief process with my mother-in-law, Audrey.
My husband's parents, Don and Audrey, were married for sixty-two years and in all that time, Audrey was only alone overnight for fewer than twenty nights—total. Even when Don was away during two different wars, Audrey’s mother lived with her. Four or five months before Don passed away, Audrey remarked to me, “If something happens to Don, I don’t know if I can live alone.” Then about a month later she commented, “I’ve been thinking about living alone and I think I can do it.”
I was so proud of her.
The first night of Don’s hospitalization, Audrey stayed in our home. The next day she surprised us with her spunk, saying she wanted to return to her own home. I volunteered to spend the night at her home, but she said, “No, I have to get used to it.” And she did, even after Don died a week later.
But that doesn’t mean I didn't worry about her loneliness. During the first two weeks we made sure she had something to do with us every day. But realizing we couldn’t keep that up for long, I wondered how she would cope.
In my prayer time I prayed verses for Audrey dealing with the topic of loneliness. I began praying Psalm 146:9 for her: “The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow; But He thwarts the way of the wicked” (NASB). Unexpectedly, I thought, I shouldn’t try to fill the place the Lord wants in her life.
Wow—that hit me hard. In my worry about her loneliness, I had begun to feel responsible to make sure she wasn’t lonely. I wrote in my journal: “I can try to be there too much. She could depend upon me and/or Larry instead of looking to You, Lord. Help me, Father, to resist the compulsion to ‘be there’ for her too much.”
When I told Larry about what the Lord had revealed to me, I jokingly (but with some seriousness) quipped, “God doesn’t want me to be your mom’s grief savior.” If I had continued to worry about her, I could have easily become that. And I’d be good at it because I so easily take responsibility for the happiness of others.
When I talked to Audrey later that day, she enthusiastically said, “Guess what Chuck Swindoll talked about on his radio program today?”
“What, Mom Audrey?”
“Loneliness. It really ministered to me.”
I laughed. God had come through. I didn’t need to be in charge of making sure she wasn’t lonely. Of course, she’s going to be lonely—she’s alone for the first time in her life. We certainly are going to help her, but she should primarily look to God, not us. Otherwise, she’ll draw too close to us and not closer to God.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this....How has God met you or someone you know in the midst of your worry?
~ Kathy
Want to be entered for the drawing for Kathy's book? Share a time when worry had an impact on your life. How have you discovered more of God's care even when worry threatened to overwhelm you? We will announce the winner on November 11, 2013.
Order a copy of Kathy's book in paperback or Ebook here:
.jpg)
Worry Can't Change Others
by Kathy Collard Miller
There’s something deep inside of us that
believes worry can change others. If someone we love has a different
perspective than we do, we worry. If someone we love has a different belief
about God, we worry. If someone we love has a character flaw, we worry. We just
know their wrong thinking will mess up their lives. Some of these worries may truly seem “worthy” of worry. Your mother may not know Christ as her Savior, and she has cancer. Your son may be on the street taking drugs. Your friend may demonstrate a lack of integrity at work. Another friend drives while intoxicated. You may have tried to reason, cajole, quote Scripture, even manipulate each person into changing their ideas and their behavior, but nothing has worked—not even prayer. God hasn’t changed them either. You fear something bad, really bad, is going to happen.
Even if it’s not a matter of something really bad occurring, we can easily take responsibility for someone else’s happiness and then respond in an unhealthy way. I recognized that possibility as we walked through the grief process with my mother-in-law, Audrey.
My husband's parents, Don and Audrey, were married for sixty-two years and in all that time, Audrey was only alone overnight for fewer than twenty nights—total. Even when Don was away during two different wars, Audrey’s mother lived with her. Four or five months before Don passed away, Audrey remarked to me, “If something happens to Don, I don’t know if I can live alone.” Then about a month later she commented, “I’ve been thinking about living alone and I think I can do it.”
I was so proud of her.
The first night of Don’s hospitalization, Audrey stayed in our home. The next day she surprised us with her spunk, saying she wanted to return to her own home. I volunteered to spend the night at her home, but she said, “No, I have to get used to it.” And she did, even after Don died a week later.
But that doesn’t mean I didn't worry about her loneliness. During the first two weeks we made sure she had something to do with us every day. But realizing we couldn’t keep that up for long, I wondered how she would cope.
In my prayer time I prayed verses for Audrey dealing with the topic of loneliness. I began praying Psalm 146:9 for her: “The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow; But He thwarts the way of the wicked” (NASB). Unexpectedly, I thought, I shouldn’t try to fill the place the Lord wants in her life.
Wow—that hit me hard. In my worry about her loneliness, I had begun to feel responsible to make sure she wasn’t lonely. I wrote in my journal: “I can try to be there too much. She could depend upon me and/or Larry instead of looking to You, Lord. Help me, Father, to resist the compulsion to ‘be there’ for her too much.”
When I told Larry about what the Lord had revealed to me, I jokingly (but with some seriousness) quipped, “God doesn’t want me to be your mom’s grief savior.” If I had continued to worry about her, I could have easily become that. And I’d be good at it because I so easily take responsibility for the happiness of others.
When I talked to Audrey later that day, she enthusiastically said, “Guess what Chuck Swindoll talked about on his radio program today?”
“What, Mom Audrey?”
“Loneliness. It really ministered to me.”
I laughed. God had come through. I didn’t need to be in charge of making sure she wasn’t lonely. Of course, she’s going to be lonely—she’s alone for the first time in her life. We certainly are going to help her, but she should primarily look to God, not us. Otherwise, she’ll draw too close to us and not closer to God.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this....How has God met you or someone you know in the midst of your worry?
~ Kathy
Want to be entered for the drawing for Kathy's book? Share a time when worry had an impact on your life. How have you discovered more of God's care even when worry threatened to overwhelm you? We will announce the winner on November 11, 2013.
BOOK SUMMARY AND BIOGRAPHY:
It is possible to worry
less through trusting God more. Regardless of the storms of trials,
temptations, worry, uncertainty, confusion, or regrets that you're facing, you
can trust God more. Partly Cloudy with Scattered Worries offers a
conversational style, personal testimonies, practical illustrations, and solid
biblical teaching for breaking anxiety and the devastating effects of worry.
Each chapter includes Discussion Questions for individuals or groups, along
with a “Letter from God.” In addition, a profile of a woman in the Bible who
struggled with or experienced victory over worry is featured in each chapter to
inspire every reader to see God's hand in her life.
Kathy Collard Miller is a
speaker and author. Her passion is to inspire women to trust God more. She has
spoken in 30 states and 7 foreign countries. Kathy has 49 published books
including Women of the Bible: Smart Guide to the Bible (Thomas Nelson)
and she blogs at www.KathyCollardMiller.blogspot.com. Kathy lives in Southern
California with her husband of 43 years, Larry, and is the proud grandma of Raphael.
Kathy and Larry often speak together at marriage events and retreats.
Order a copy of Kathy's book in paperback or Ebook here:
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Trusting the Pilot
+(800x600).jpg)
Air travel is as old as the Wright
Brothers, yet even after decades of discovery people are still fearful of
flying. Biplanes are a novel
form of flight that dates back to an early time period. The Red Baron flew a
spiffy red version during WW1. Compared to the armored jets we are used to they
don’t appear to be the safest with their fluid dual wingspan and wire
suspensions. They are something we are more likely to see in a museum than in
the sky.
As we taxied to the short runway, Phil
told us he can’t see what’s in front of him at all when he’s taking off,
landing or flying. This is not
something a passenger wants to hear. Actually, biplanes are famous for blind spots. Yet, in listening to Phil describe his
love of the biplane’s simpler form of flying, I wasn’t afraid.
I can’t explain it, but I trusted our
pilot.
Phil’s knowledge and experience got us
into the air and we enjoyed the most amazing scenery over the lakes region of
New Hampshire. I don’t know all the technical terms of how all of it works, but
experiencing a wingover maneuver was pretty spectacular. That’s when the plane
goes into a turn and then lingers in mid-air, looking like it’s standing on its
wing. This showy display actually enables the plane to change its direction
without losing much altitude and speed. Phil told me to keep my eyes on the
horizon to guard against dizziness—it worked. The incredible thing: I, Miss-Fearful-of-lots-of-things
wasn’t afraid. I trusted the pilot’s ability to bring the biplane level again.
.jpg) |
| Phil's photo from the cockpit while doing a wingover |
+(800x600).jpg) |
| Phil and his baby |
In order take on any adventure you need
to step out of your comfort zone; I think hanging midair in a biplane fits that
description. If you get a chance, fly low in one of these beautiful machines.
Phil is ready to be your pilot over the scenic Laconia, NH area. Thanks, Phil
for an awesome flight!
And, I hope you know God is the best Pilot
ever when it comes to navigating life. Hand Him the controls and get ready for His
amazing adventure!
Jeanne
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Believing, It Settles The Soul
A beautiful Sunday! I spent time outdoors today, pruning my lavender and sage, neatening up my oregano and chive plants. Then, John and I had maple iced coffee in the sunshine. A perfect day. If only life could be this lovely all the time :)
A reader mentioned that many would understand the struggle to believe and that I needed to offer the hope I found on the other side...so this blog is dedicated to that end...And, I hope that others will offer their experiences of finding God in the midst of their crisis of belief.....afterall, that's how we encourage one another on the journey.
As I think more about belief. I want to pass on hope to those who have struggled with believing at times (and we all do). Whether it is taking the first step of believing unto salvation or the daily need to believe when facing the things life throws at us; believing that He is able is something we get better at as we meet the God who loves us in the midst of our circumstances and He shows himself faithful.
So, when I sat down and asked, “What’s next for my blog, Lord. I am listening—please show me in your word, the truths that settle the soul.” I came to the following conclusions:
He is a God of promises
He who promised is faithful – Hebrews 10:23
His precious and magnificent promises – 2 Peter 1:4
He is a God of Hope
My hope is in Him – Psalm 62:5
Hope we have as an anchor – Hebrews 6:19
Hopes all things – 1 Corinthians 13:7
He is a God of peace
He is our peace – Ephesians 2:14
Peace of God which surpasses all understanding – Philippians 4:7
And, He offers forgiveness, eternal life, abundant life and freedom to all those who acknowledge Him.
When I see Him for who He is, watch Him work in and around me, and see His kingdom becoming before my eyes, that’s how I know. He is good; therefore He wants what’s good for me. I can surrender, knowing that His plan will come to fruition as I trust in who He is.
I saw it in Mary…when she said, “May it be to me as you have said.”
I saw it in Peter when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
And it is in me too, during the times of turmoil, His peace settles over my soul and speaks in the innermost place, “Be still and know that I am God.”
As I prepare in my heart for this Easter time, I want to remember all He has done on my behalf. He has won the victory over sin and death and given me His Holy Spirit to empower me to live wholly for Him. I have received a Living and Eternal Hope through Him…
Believing….yes, and it has settled my soul,
Jeanne
“God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.”
St. Augustine
A reader mentioned that many would understand the struggle to believe and that I needed to offer the hope I found on the other side...so this blog is dedicated to that end...And, I hope that others will offer their experiences of finding God in the midst of their crisis of belief.....afterall, that's how we encourage one another on the journey.
As I think more about belief. I want to pass on hope to those who have struggled with believing at times (and we all do). Whether it is taking the first step of believing unto salvation or the daily need to believe when facing the things life throws at us; believing that He is able is something we get better at as we meet the God who loves us in the midst of our circumstances and He shows himself faithful.
So, when I sat down and asked, “What’s next for my blog, Lord. I am listening—please show me in your word, the truths that settle the soul.” I came to the following conclusions:
He is a God of promises
He who promised is faithful – Hebrews 10:23
His precious and magnificent promises – 2 Peter 1:4
He is a God of Hope
My hope is in Him – Psalm 62:5
Hope we have as an anchor – Hebrews 6:19
Hopes all things – 1 Corinthians 13:7
He is a God of peace
He is our peace – Ephesians 2:14
Peace of God which surpasses all understanding – Philippians 4:7
And, He offers forgiveness, eternal life, abundant life and freedom to all those who acknowledge Him.
When I see Him for who He is, watch Him work in and around me, and see His kingdom becoming before my eyes, that’s how I know. He is good; therefore He wants what’s good for me. I can surrender, knowing that His plan will come to fruition as I trust in who He is.
I saw it in Mary…when she said, “May it be to me as you have said.”
I saw it in Peter when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
And it is in me too, during the times of turmoil, His peace settles over my soul and speaks in the innermost place, “Be still and know that I am God.”
As I prepare in my heart for this Easter time, I want to remember all He has done on my behalf. He has won the victory over sin and death and given me His Holy Spirit to empower me to live wholly for Him. I have received a Living and Eternal Hope through Him…
Believing….yes, and it has settled my soul,
Jeanne
“God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.”
St. Augustine
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Do You Believe That He Is Able?
Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” in Matthew 9:28.
This question hit me between the eyes. Do I believe? Do I think God is ABLE? In my head, yes, but, I want to believe just as strongly with my heart. What’s the verse that says, immeasurably more than we can ask or think? More than we can imagine. That’s describes my God! But, my finite brain limits Him—I need to be freed from that. I need to know how small I am and how great He is.
Believing means that I need to remove the barriers I have erected, the ones that keep me protected and others at arms length. Barriers like mistrust, fear, discouragement, self-sufficiency, and self-protectiveness. These barriers create the perfect conditions for unbelief.
To believe, I let down my guard and put my complete trust in Him, without reservation. My hands are open, palms up in surrender. I am expectant because He promises to be faithful. Then, I begin to watch for His fingerprints on my life.
I have so much to learn and understand about believing in Him. I want to grow in my faith and trust in His all-powerfulness. I want to embrace each day, every opportunity, to look at things with fresh eyes, believing-eyes. He is able--I am the one who hinders Him most. Belief unlocks the ability to watch Him work in and around me in ways far greater than I can imagine.
What is it that you need to believe God for? What barriers cloud your ability to trust?
Expecting. Believing. Because He is able!!
Jeanne
This question hit me between the eyes. Do I believe? Do I think God is ABLE? In my head, yes, but, I want to believe just as strongly with my heart. What’s the verse that says, immeasurably more than we can ask or think? More than we can imagine. That’s describes my God! But, my finite brain limits Him—I need to be freed from that. I need to know how small I am and how great He is.
Believing means that I need to remove the barriers I have erected, the ones that keep me protected and others at arms length. Barriers like mistrust, fear, discouragement, self-sufficiency, and self-protectiveness. These barriers create the perfect conditions for unbelief.
To believe, I let down my guard and put my complete trust in Him, without reservation. My hands are open, palms up in surrender. I am expectant because He promises to be faithful. Then, I begin to watch for His fingerprints on my life.
I have so much to learn and understand about believing in Him. I want to grow in my faith and trust in His all-powerfulness. I want to embrace each day, every opportunity, to look at things with fresh eyes, believing-eyes. He is able--I am the one who hinders Him most. Belief unlocks the ability to watch Him work in and around me in ways far greater than I can imagine.
What is it that you need to believe God for? What barriers cloud your ability to trust?
Expecting. Believing. Because He is able!!
Jeanne
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Do You Believe?
What does it take for you to believe?
I have been walking with Jesus for a long time so it's hard to remember what caused me to first draw near to Him. I remember desiring to do the right things. I remember wanting to know more about Him. I was a young teen when I made my decision to follow Him; I realized I could never be good enough to go to Heaven on my own. I needed Jesus. My epiphany came in the normal course of my daily activities; I remember sitting at the kitchen table listening to my mom explain about her finding the Savior. It made perfect sense for me to believe too. It was the missing piece. That’s when I chose to believe and follow Him.
In our Christmas story in Luke chapter two, there were two people given a chance to believe. Both were visited by the Angel Gabriel. Both were given pretty shocking news. Their stories are similar yet the results were very different. Zacharias was struck mute for his unbelief until he wrote on the tablet nine months later, His name is John, after the miraculous birth of a son in his old age. Mary was called blessed by her cousin, Elizabeth because she believed what the angel told her.
In reading this account I have been struck by belief and unbelief, two choices that I have every day. Will I believe God or not? I want to choose to believe God for whatever He says, in His word and in His promises. This is easier said than done when faced with impossible odds or the murmurs of doubt that always manage to crowd my thoughts. I struggle in the same way that people in the Bible struggled. I wonder if I am more like Zacharias or Mary in my responses.
As 2011 begins to unfold, my word to contemplate is BELIEVE. Because, believing isn’t finished just because I know Jesus. Believing is something I need to do every day while I walk with Him.
Believing requires faith and trust—in something. I have to believe in things every day. I believe when I board a plane I will make it to my destination safely. I trust the pilot. I trust that the mechanics inspected the aircraft before takeoff. I believe that my car will start when I leave for work in the morning. I believe when I cross over a bridge it will not collapse. I trust these things without even thinking about them. So, the question is, do I believe God? Do I trust that He is able to accomplish everything He says He can do?
I find that it is sometimes easier to believe God for the big things. I believe I am going to heaven because Scripture says if I am trusting in Christ for my salvation, because of what He accomplished on the cross, His grace is all I need. I trust that I will have a job to go to. I believe that God is working in the lives of those I love....you get the idea. But, sometimes it is harder to believe for the smaller everyday things--the things that are in my face. Somehow I think those are my responsibility.
So I have begun to read verses about believing every day and will pass along what I learn. I hope you will come along with me…there is so much He wants to do in us and through us. But, like Mary and Zacharias, we have a choice; we need to start by believing.
Will you believe with me? He is able because nothing is impossible with Him.
Jeanne
I have been walking with Jesus for a long time so it's hard to remember what caused me to first draw near to Him. I remember desiring to do the right things. I remember wanting to know more about Him. I was a young teen when I made my decision to follow Him; I realized I could never be good enough to go to Heaven on my own. I needed Jesus. My epiphany came in the normal course of my daily activities; I remember sitting at the kitchen table listening to my mom explain about her finding the Savior. It made perfect sense for me to believe too. It was the missing piece. That’s when I chose to believe and follow Him.
In our Christmas story in Luke chapter two, there were two people given a chance to believe. Both were visited by the Angel Gabriel. Both were given pretty shocking news. Their stories are similar yet the results were very different. Zacharias was struck mute for his unbelief until he wrote on the tablet nine months later, His name is John, after the miraculous birth of a son in his old age. Mary was called blessed by her cousin, Elizabeth because she believed what the angel told her.
In reading this account I have been struck by belief and unbelief, two choices that I have every day. Will I believe God or not? I want to choose to believe God for whatever He says, in His word and in His promises. This is easier said than done when faced with impossible odds or the murmurs of doubt that always manage to crowd my thoughts. I struggle in the same way that people in the Bible struggled. I wonder if I am more like Zacharias or Mary in my responses.
As 2011 begins to unfold, my word to contemplate is BELIEVE. Because, believing isn’t finished just because I know Jesus. Believing is something I need to do every day while I walk with Him.
Believing requires faith and trust—in something. I have to believe in things every day. I believe when I board a plane I will make it to my destination safely. I trust the pilot. I trust that the mechanics inspected the aircraft before takeoff. I believe that my car will start when I leave for work in the morning. I believe when I cross over a bridge it will not collapse. I trust these things without even thinking about them. So, the question is, do I believe God? Do I trust that He is able to accomplish everything He says He can do?
I find that it is sometimes easier to believe God for the big things. I believe I am going to heaven because Scripture says if I am trusting in Christ for my salvation, because of what He accomplished on the cross, His grace is all I need. I trust that I will have a job to go to. I believe that God is working in the lives of those I love....you get the idea. But, sometimes it is harder to believe for the smaller everyday things--the things that are in my face. Somehow I think those are my responsibility.
So I have begun to read verses about believing every day and will pass along what I learn. I hope you will come along with me…there is so much He wants to do in us and through us. But, like Mary and Zacharias, we have a choice; we need to start by believing.
Will you believe with me? He is able because nothing is impossible with Him.
Jeanne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)