The Gift of Waiting

The telephone rang and I rushed to answer it. I’d been waiting to hear some news about my husband’s job. He had recently interviewed for a higher position with his company.

When I picked up the phone, Michael’s words were sweetness to my soul. “I got the promotion, Babe!”

I squealed for what seemed like a minute or two. I sounded just like the moms of American Idol contestants after their children call them to say they made it to the finals. It was long awaited news that made my heart leap.

Michael had returned to college in 2008 to get a degree that could be used in the medical diagnostics field after being laid off from jobs four different times. He had been in the IT (Information Technology) field in his past job history. But due to his lack of new certifications, he hadn’t been able to get rehired in that field. His dream was to use his IT skills in the medical field somehow.

His long time dream came true that day on February 27, 2012. I’ll never forget that day. It was also the day my ninety-six year old grandfather passed away. I know those two things were connected somehow. I don’t believe in coincidences anymore. God is too big and awesome for things to happen coincidentally.

I can’t begin to put into words what that promotion meant to us. We had waited for years and years and years to see God fulfill this desire and dream. This promotion pushed us closer to our other dream of adopting a child from Uganda. It was worth the wait. Waiting makes it so much sweeter than it does to get things instantaneously.

I remember when I was a little girl; there were movies that I had to wait a whole year to watch. We didn’t have DVDs or videos to watch. So every year, I was excited beyond measure to watch the Sound of Music again or to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Christmas time. It didn’t matter that I had to wait a whole year to see the shows and movies. The waiting made it blissful for me when the time arrived for me to see them again.

Waiting can be hard. We can begin to have doubts that good things are coming. But as followers of Christ, we are promised that all things work together for “good” for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

There is an old phrase I remember hearing, “Good things come to those who wait.” I love that phrase, but I would add a few words to it. “Good things come to those who wait in faith.”

Are you waiting for something that you know in your spirit is coming? Are you getting weary in the waiting?

Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). We can rest in His words and know that as we are waiting and believing, His good plans will unfold.

It’s worth the wait. It’s worth it because when you finally receive your blessing, you will have so much joy that you will feel as though you may burst with glee.

Hang on and trust Jesus. Your time of blessing is coming.

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. ~ Hebrews 6:15 NIV

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14 NIV

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. ~ Isaiah 40:31 NASB

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

The photo was downloaded at http://www.stockfreeimages.com/

Spiritual Awakening

The first time I worshiped at Passion City Church (Atlanta, Georgia) in 2009, it was surreal to me. I thought it was because one of my favorite musicians was leading worship. But as time went by, the Lord began to speak to my spirit about what was really happening. Sitting in a sea of college aged kids, I was fixated on one word: REVIVAL. I could see the beginnings of a true spiritual awakening.

Several years later, on June 25, 2011, I had a dream in my sleep about Passion City Church. The message of my dream confirmed to me that what I had been sensing was truly from God.

I began to envision a true movement of God similar to the stories in the book of Acts. I envisioned people getting healed of diseases, the blind getting their vision back, and most importantly I envisioned people weeping in repentance.

It’s been eighteen months since I had the dream in my sleep and over three years since I first visited Passion City Church. With expectation for a great awakening, I have continued to pray for a major Jesus movement to begin there.

Tonight, the Passion 2013 conference began at the Georgia Dome. As my daughter was leaving today to attend the conference, I felt strongly in my spirit that at this event there will be multitudes of people healed, delivered, and touched by Jesus.

As I was watching the live web stream from home, I just sat in awe. I believe this week that Jesus is going to rock the Dome. People will be set free. And I believe this move of God will ignite a movement that will lead to a great awakening in the Church.

Please pray for all those attending and for the people around the world watching. 

So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow... ~ Philippians 2:10

Click here to watch the conference live at various times throughout the week.

Live Abundantly!
Amy

A New Song

 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God... Psalm 40:3 (NIV)

It was during the early morning hours. I felt weak and restless as I was facing a challenge in my life that seemed impossible to overcome.

With tears rolling down my cheeks, I fell at the feet of the Father and bowed down. I cried out for strength. I prayed, “Father, the obstacles on the path laid out for me feel too big.” His warm embrace enveloped my heart. His love washed over me. His Spirit soothed my soul. The sweetness of His presence encircled every ounce of my being. His words flooded into my spirit. 

 “Child, nothing is too big for Me. I’ll never ask you to do more than I created you for. Rest in Me. Rest in My love, rest in knowing there is nothing I’ll ask of you that will ever be too big. My Grace is sufficient for you. In your weakness, My strength is made perfect. Arise my child. Let me put a new song in your heart. Let My love lift you up and carry you.”

His strength lifted my spirit. His words permeated my being. My soul was restored in an instant. Joy replaced the tears. Love flooded into my heart. Peace covered me and made me ready to begin a new day with a new song in my heart—a song of joy for celebrating the love I had found in my Father’s arms.

With the love of God, and His strength—life is made beautiful. He carries those who completely depend on Him.

Live Abundantly!

Amy

This post has been revised and edited from a piece I wrote in 2009.

Dancing in the Rain

Children hold the key to a happy life. They are trusting by nature. They are innocent in their thinking, and they know how to enjoy life to the fullest instinctively.

When my children were younger they loved to go out and play in the rain. I have joyful memories of  their little voices begging me, Mommy, if there's no thunder, can we go out in the rain?

With joy I would stand at the door and watch them jump around and dance in the rain. It was full living at its best as they splashed in the puddles. Sometimes they would dance with umbrellas, or they would make a tent of umbrellas on the driveway. Sometimes they would simply stand in the rain on the edge of the street feeling the rush of water flowing between their toes.

The rain didn’t stop them from simply enjoying the day.

A downpour of rain doesn’t hinder a child’s ability to embrace the moment and fully live.

This is how our Father in heaven wants us to live out our lives. When He created us He never intended for us to endure life. His original idea was for us to see Him in the midst of the rain showers and enjoy life to the fullest.

God knew life wouldn't be perfect or easy. I believe His greatest desire is for us to rely on Him in the midst of the rainy days. When we’re dependent upon Him, He continually pours out His grace and love onto our lives in the most unimaginable ways.

Several years ago while praying, I heard words in my spirit that changed my perspective.

"If you stay on the path with Me, you will not be disappointed." God whispered to my heart.

At first I was thinking, "How can that be possible?" But I soon understood what the Lord was trying to get me to understand. He wanted me to know that if I followed Him and stayed close to His heart in the midst of the things that would normally be disappointing to me, He would turn my mourning into dancing instantaneously. His words have proved to be true in my life. I can honestly say—because I have been so wrapped up in His love—that disappointment has not penetrated my heart during the past several years.

Life is full of difficulties and challenges. But when Jesus is the center of our lives, His love overshadows everything else.

My friend and mentor, Bonnie, had a gift for expressing this truth. She said, "With Christ, there are no disappointments. The challenges in life are HIS-appointments." Bonnie passed away in 2008. Her faith in Christ lives on in my heart. She danced in the rain more than anyone I've ever known. The beautiful life she lived continually spurs me on to dance and live fully alive in every circumstance.

Leaning on our own strength leads to more disappointment. It's when we lean on Jesus that we see His glory.

Why not choose the latter?  Why not take the risk to see His Glory in your life? Choose joy. Choose life. 

When the rains pours down, choose to turn toward Jesus and dance.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. ~ Psalm 30:11 (NAS Bible)

Children of Zion, celebrate! Be glad in your God. He’s giving you a teacher to train you how to live right—Teaching, like rain out of heaven, showers of words to refresh and nourish your soul, just as He used to do. ~ Joel 2:23 (The Message)

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

This post has been updated and revised from a piece I wrote in August, 2009.

The Abundant Life

It was during one of the most difficult seasons of my life that I learned the most about abundant living. My husband had recently been laid off from his job. I was working tirelessly to make ends meet and life was very stressful. I wanted desperately for my circumstances to change.

While battling hardships and trials, I was wondering why everything that had brought me security had been lost. I sought the Lord for answers, and He diligently answered me. He led me to a scripture in the Old Testament that jumped off the pages when I read it. Deuteronomy 30:6 says, “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart, and with all your soul, and LIVE.”

In these verses, I found the answer to what my heart longed to know. The word "circumcise" is derived from a Latin word meaning, to cut. In the midst of excruciating trials, it felt like my heart was being circumcised. God was cutting away the things in my heart that were hindering me from fully loving Him and fully living life. The process was far from easy. At times it was excessively painful. But ultimately it led me to a full, abundant life.

Everyone wants to live abundantly. John 10:10 says that Jesus came to give us life, and to give it more abundantly. Yet, how many people truly tap into the abundant life that Christ offers? Could it be the way we view our lives, or what we equate happiness with? For years, my thoughts of the good life were completely intertwined with the external circumstances in life—having a good income, having constant harmony in my relationships, and being able to  do the things I love doing.

For a season, I only sought abundance in the external joys of life. But in God's infinite grace, He took me through a season of testing because He wanted to give me true life—the life Jesus promises to everyone. It was in the dark times that I found His greatest treasures.

Are you in the midst of being pulled and stretched? Do you feel as though life is caving in around you? To be rebuilt, a house needs to be torn down first. It can be an excruciating process. Do not lose heart. God is building a beautiful house out of your life. He uses every loss and every struggle for our good. Nothing He allows in our lives is in vain. He uses it all.

The struggles I experienced many years ago are the very substance of the good things in my life today. The things that were the hardest to endure are what led me to the abundant life in Christ. 

Through the hardships, God gave me a new heart—a heart more like His, one that rejoices because of His love. There is nothing that compares to His great love. It’s worth it all.

It really should be pure joy to face trials because we know that no matter what is happening Jesus is walking along side us, carrying us, allowing us to bask in His love at all times and in all circumstances.

Jesus is everything. When we know this, then we know that anything else in life is the icing on the cake.  
  
...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  ~ John 10:10 (NAS) 

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

This post has been revised and was originally written in 2008.

Magnificent Love

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. ~ Ephesians 3: 17-18 (NIV)

The sun was slowly slipping behind the horizon. I was driving alone, heading north. I was talking softly to the Lord. I came to the top of a hill when I saw the most breathtaking view of the beautiful North Georgia Mountains. It was majestic. 

I had driven this route more times than I could count. I’ve always loved the mountains. But this was different. The way the sky appeared and the way the mountains surrounded me captured every fiber of my being. 

Christ's presence came to me so powerfully that it felt tangible, heavenly in an inexpressible way. As my worship music softly played, the voice of the Lord whispered words to my heart.

My love for you is higher and wider and more magnificent than these beautiful mountains.

My heart melted in His presence. Heaven touched me and drew me close to the heart of God. I basked in His great love for the rest of my trip.
 
I am grateful to have encounters like this with Jesus in my normal, everyday life. Some days, distractions rob me of the quietness my soul needs. It's very easy to be in a big hurry and miss these spectacular God moments.

We don't have to be driving through beautiful scenery to feel God's presence. We can commune with the Maker of the heavens and earth at any moment of the day.

Jesus is waiting for each one of us to stop what we're doing and rest in His perfect love.

Remember to slow down. Be quiet. Listen closely and let His presence wash over you.

A Prayer

Beloved Jesus,

Our hearts long to have more of You. Help us to see and feel how great Your love is. Help us to rest in Your presence continually. We love You. Amen.

A Thought to Ponder

The love of Jesus beckons us to open our hearts to Him. 

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Stunning Beauty

Joy was overflowing out of my soul as I gazed out at one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. I was standing near a 15 acre sunflower farm—something I had been dreaming about for years, but never experienced. My family and I drove over an hour to Rutledge, Georgia to visit a sunflower farm I had discovered by searching online.

As I was gazing at the field from a window in the gift shop, I was exclaiming, "I feel like I'm in heaven!" I told a young woman that was working there that it was my first time to ever visit a sunflower farm. My childlike enthusiasm seemed to touch her deeply as she stood there with tears in her eyes.

Shortly after paying the fee for cutting the flowers, we made our way out onto the field. There were beads of sweat on my face as I walked through the field of flowers. The temperature was about 97 degrees and it was glorious even in the extreme heat!

It was surreal for me as I remembered envisioning this day so many years before. It was over six years ago that I wrote these words: "Today while I was running, the Lord gave me a vision. I saw myself in a long, flowing, gauzy, white skirt and a loose-fitting, matching white blouse…dancing in a field of beautiful yellow flowers. The flowers were above my knees and they were surrounding me for as far as I could see. It was a beautiful picture in my mind of how my heart has been let loose (set free) and longs to be surrounded by BEAUTY. As I was visualizing this I imagined Michael taking pictures of me and capturing how my heart feels…on film... I trust that the Lord will lead us to a field of yellow flowers!"

The same year I had the flower vision, I stumbled upon a huge print of the most magnificent sunflower field. At the bottom of the print I noticed these words: "Take the time to MARVEL at the wonders of life." While reading these words, I knew that someday I would find a field of sunflowers just like the one in the large picture. I purchased the print and hung it on the wall behind my desk in my small writing studio. The theme of my little writing nook became "sunflowers." Looking at the picture of the beautiful sunflower field has been exhilarating for me during the years that I've had it. But it doesn't compare to standing in a real life field of sunflowers.

As I stood there in the midst of the beauty all I could think about was how heaven has touched me with the freedom I have found through the love of Christ.

Jesus wants for all of us to live in His freedom and let Him heal our hurts as they arise from within our souls. He died on the cross so that we could live freely and gloriously! It took me decades to see this and to truly know that Jesus wants me to live free from carrying the burdens of life.

I used to be weighed down with anxieties, hurts, and fears. The disappointments of life had robbed me of the life Jesus had envisioned for me and for all of His followers. I had carried those burdens unnecessarily.

All along, I could have been surrendering my cares to Him. But I held onto the hurt for much too long. When I realized the healing power in the blood of Christ, He began removing the hurts and fears—layer by layer—from my heart and began replacing them with a sense of freedom that makes me want to dance in fields of flowers. So I did that recently. I jumped. I twirled. I threw my arms up toward heaven and rejoiced over the freedom in my heart while my husband was shooting every picture he could. With the camera, he was capturing a visual picture of the glorious freedom that is found in Christ alone.

In Him, we are free to live abundantly...free to dance...free to sing...free to shout hallelujah...free to be what He created us to be...free to bask eternally in His stunning beauty.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
  

Live Abundantly!

Amy

For more information about the sunflower field I found in Georgia, visit the website:

http://www.sunflowerfarmfestival.com/

Desperately Seeking God

I was organizing a closet and stumbled upon a prayer I had written to God when I was twenty years old. The words I had written expressed my desire to learn to depend on Christ like an infant with her mother. If I had known what was in store for my future, I don't know that I would have been brave enough to pray the words written in that prayer.

At that time in my life I didn't really know what it meant to be dependent on God. There was no reason to depend on Him. I was a young newlywed working for a Fortune 500 company, sailing through life. To top things off, I was head over heels in love with the man I had dreamed of as a little girl. I was "Cinderella" and my "Prince Charming" had recently swept me off of my feet. 

For a season, the sunshine in my life remained, but then the rain came, and eventually turned into violent thunderstorms. My marriage began to fail, the job I sought fulfillment from ended and I felt hopeless. Everything that made me feel safe and protected had been lost. In 1997, 12 years after I had prayed to have an infant like dependence on God I hit rock bottom.  I clearly remember wanting my life to be over.

In my desperation, God picked me up, put the pieces of my heart back together, and healed my marriage.

Shortly after God began restoring my marriage, I woke up from a deep sleep with these words replaying over and over in my head: "Wherever you go, I will go...wherever you go, I will follow..." 

During a telephone conversation, I shared the words with my mother, hoping she would have some insight. She told me that these words were from a scripture in the book of Ruth. Through tears, my mother read the words from Ruth 1:16, "Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.' "  My heart was touched, but I still wasn't sure what the relevance of this verse was for my life.

Several hours later, I felt a powerful sense of Christ's presence as I was praying, and suddenly I remembered something I had forgotten. My husband and I had chosen a verse to have engraved on our wedding bands before we were married. I couldn't get the ring off of my finger fast enough to see what scripture was inscribed on my wedding band. My heart fluttered when I saw that it was Ruth 1:16. As I sat there weeping, I rejoiced in knowing that God had known all along that we would make it through the severe storms we had faced in our marriage. 

Is there something you are relentlessly praying about, and desperately seeking God for?

* Don't give up praying (Luke 18: 1-8).

* Remain steadfast and don't lose heart (Hebrew 12:3).

* Keep a heart of gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Christ is the One who restores, heals, and performs miracles as we desperately and wholeheartedly seek after Him.

This article has been revised and was originally written in 2008 for Intercessory Prayer Network SE.

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

Rainbow Flowers and Small Miracles

 

If there were a magic solution to life’s problems and I could be delivered from all hardship, I would choose to hold onto the problems. As I look back over my life, there are countless blessings that have come to me as a direct result of the difficulties in my life. Would I really want to give up all of life’s blessings to bypass the hardships? I don’t think so. I would choose the hard road any day.

My life has had a number of disappointments, hurt, heartbreak and undesirable circumstances. But it has been while walking through the hard places that I have found true happiness. I've heard the statement, “When people experience hardship, they either get bitter or they get better.” I chose the latter. I have gotten better through adversity.  I decided to let go of self-pity and began seeking to know Christ better. As my heart turned toward Jesus and prayer,  my life began changing. My circumstances didn't change at first, but I found unspeakable joy in the midst of the trials. 

I remember a day when I felt pure bliss while experiencing hardship. My husband had been laid off from his job for several months and was busy seeking employment. I had recently begun working for a catering company on the weekends and I was also doing a few other things trying to make ends meet in ways that would allow me to keep my role as a mother my highest priority. Our cars were very old, our 22 year old house was falling apart in many ways. Yet, I can honestly say that I was the happiest I had ever been. My heart was at rest,  I had found a passion and love for life. To put it in a nutshell, I found pure gold in my relationship with God, our Creator, the One who gives us breath. He lifts us up in ways that nothing else can.

It was in 2008. I was sitting at my dining room table with a list of bills, wondering how we were going to squeak by that month. I spent thirty minutes talking to a representative with my mortgage company about payment options during my husband’s unemployment. After this conversation, I began jotting down some ideas. I realized how close we were to staying afloat. I had the thought, “If we could get some help with our groceries, we would be able to pay the remaining balance of the mortgage payment.” Simultaneously, as I was having this thought, the doorbell rang. I answered the door and it was my daughter’s friend, Emily and her mother, Kimberly. They were standing there with a beautiful bouquet of rainbow-colored flowers and a shopping bag full of food. With a huge smile on her face, Kimberly said, “The ‘Rainbow Buddies’ are here!” Instantly, I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, and like many times before, I was in awe of God’s perfect timing. This sweet woman that I barely knew had brought exactly what I needed at precisely the moment I needed it. What an amazing symbol of Christ’s love this was for me! My heart was rejoicing over this miracle from God.

It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that God allows hardship in our lives to punish us. I have discovered that it is really quite the opposite. God allows pain and sorrow in the lives of His children so that He'll have the opportunity to shower us with His love and bring glory to His name. Through adversity, we get to experience God’s love in the most miraculous ways. 

This reminds me of what God did for Noah thousands of years ago. Up until the flood waters receded, Noah must have really questioned God. But when the water receded and the rainbow appeared, I can only imagine how Noah’s heart was rejoicing over the miracle he saw God perform. He saw that God is real, He is love, and He keeps His promises.

I haven’t experienced the miracle that Noah did. But I have seen the realness of God. I feel His love encompassing my heart. I continually rejoice over the way He comforts me, the way He encourages me, and the way He showers me with His love by sending rainbow flowers and small miracles!

Genesis 9:13  "I have set a rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."

Genesis 9:16  " Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds , I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth."

This article has been revised from a piece originally written in March, 2008.

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Resurrection Joy

Matthew 28:6

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” NAS

While looking out my back window, I noticed the wind gently blowing the beautiful flower blossoms and the new leaves that had emerged. The smells of spring were blowing in from outside and reminding me of the new life that had recently come forth. I was overcome by the Spirit of God and His amazing love. His presence was overpowering. His love stunned me just like it does every single day. His voice reminded me of the joy of the Easter season. He beckoned Me with His words to once again let His love renew my spirit. I heard Him whisper in the perfect love language that only He can speak.

I am risen! Celebrate My resurrection. Come live fully in Me every moment of every day. Don't give one thought to the difficulties of life on earth. For these are light and momentary troubles in the world. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and all things unseen. As you live in Me, you will rise up on eagles' wings and soar continually. Don't be afraid of anything I ask you to do. Simply obey Me. Live in the fullness of My joy. Shout to the world of My goodness. Glorify My name so that those in need of Me will know the truth of who I am. Let this day be a day of new beginnings: a day to rejoice in My perfect love for you. My heart longs for you, My beloved bride. I am coming back for you and will live with you for all eternity. Come with Me to high places and never stop singing praises over all you have found in the gift of the cross.

His words lifted my soul and filled me up to overflowing with joy and exuberance. His love awakened me once again. My heart was overcome with gratitude and I praised Him for His beauty.

A Prayer

Beloved Jesus,

You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are incredible. Thank You for the glorious gift You have given mankind by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Thank You for bearing the indescribable pain so that we can live fully and freely. Thank You for coming into the world and offering us salvation and letting us live in Your love for all eternity. Lord, we know we could never repay You for what You have done for us. But we come to you with humility and sit at Your feet to worship and adore You for all that You are. Your love lifts our countenance. Your love gives us hope. Your love heals our broken hearts. Your love allows us to give to the needy, to share the Good News to the lost, and to forgive the ones who have hurt us. Your love conquers all of the darkness and awakens our souls. We will be eternally grateful for YOU. We love You with all of our hearts. Amen.

Thought for the Day

The resurrection of Christ is the only hope for our world.

 

LIVE ABUNDANTLY!

Amy 

Hope for the Hurting

Verse of the Day:
 
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

My Dear Jesus,

My heart is broken for the people in Japan. Yet I know You will make something beautiful out of their despair. Place a burden in the hearts of Your children to reach out and help the hurting people in Japan. Let the Japanese people see You do miracles and wonders in the midst of the chaos. I trust You, Jesus, to restore their broken land. I love You. Amen.

Whispers from God:

I will go wherever I am called upon to help those who trust in Me. I will heal the brokenhearted and restore what has been lost.

A Thought to Ponder:

God wants to use every believer to bring hope to the world. ~ Amy