Believe for More in 2013

As humans, God created us in His image. He created us to commune and connect with Him.

John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me."  

When we walk with Christ—the Messiah of the world—and stop to be still, and ask Him to cleanse us of all the unrighteousness that separates us from Him, we can hear His whispers softly speak to us.

So many people are afraid to trust the voice they hear in their spirits. If what we are sensing in our spirits does not align with the Word of God and its principles, then we can be certain that it must not be from God. But we can rejoice and know that He does speak. Jesus assured us in His own words that His sheep will hear His voice.

In my times of prayer, I often write the words I hear in my spirit in a journal. I love to go back and reread those words for encouragement.

Last spring, I was outside watering flowers and praying when the Lord began speaking softly to me. I was pondering the times when I couldn't imagine how all that had been lost would be restored.

I thought about how I had made a decision to leave doubt behind forever.  It was the season where great expectation replaced the doubtful thoughts. Expectation became reality and breakthrough came because I had chosen to believe Jesus to do the impossible for me.

As I thought about the belief that had replaced the doubt in my life, the Lord tenderly spoke to my heart and I rushed inside to write down the words trickling into my spirit.

These are the worst of times for some and the best of times for others. For the ones focused on the cares of the world, there will be more disappointment. But for those who meditate on Me and My Word, My GLORY will be seen. Believe the truth and you shall be free. Speak those things that are not as if they are. Who are you going to listen to? You can listen to Me or you can listen to the accuser of the brethren. You can believe the lies or you can believe the truth. I have promised to supply all of your needs according to My riches. I rejoice over the ones who trust Me fully. When you walk in My righteousness and place your faith in Me, My power is released in your life. I have good plans for you. So walk away from unbelief forever and trust Me to do the impossible. Trust Me to work out all things for good in your life. I am who I say I am. I am all you need to live a victorious life today and forever. Believe.
  
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22 (NIV)

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…Romans 4:17 (NKJV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:17 (NIV)

I have revised this post slightly because I want to be certain that others know that I only share words that I truly believe are from God—words that I hope will encourage others. I hope others will be inspired to believe that Jesus does speak to His sheep and He does have good plans for all of us.

A Prayer 

Lord, we fully surrender our hearts to You today. We ask You to fill our hearts with unwavering faith and belief. Let us walk with assurance in You to do the impossible in our lives. And let us live in victory every day. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Live Abundantly!

Amy

The photo above is a graphic design my daughter created in school.

Living in Victory

As I was finishing my 6.5 mile run  several weeks ago, my heart was overflowing with gladness for all that the Lord has restored in my life. It was the first time I've run this distance in over five years because of some various injuries and other challenges. While I was running, memories of the marathon and half-marathon I did 13 years ago flooded my mind.

The Lord reminded me of some verses in Joel. I meditated on the fact that God is the One who restores.  I felt indescribable joy as I pondered the thoughts of all that the Lord has given back to me after it was stolen from my life.

I am right on schedule for running a half-marathon in 2013. This half-marathon is so much greater than a running event for me. It's a celebration of how the Lord has restored my life. He healed my broken marriage, fixed my broken finances, healed my sick body, and restored my ability to run.

Realizing and believing that God is the Restorer is what I believe ignites the supernatural power of Christ.

Many times I have been on the verge of seeing restoration in an area in my life and just before the breakthrough occurs, something happens out of the blue to thwart the good plans God has for me. Well, I have figured out that these “out of the blue” happenings are not coincidental. 

The Bible reveals a powerful truth in John 10:10. Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The thief has worked overtime to rob from me. But with each effort to sabotage God’s good plans, it backfires and Jesus wins every time. 

Hallelujah!

On Thanksgiving Day, my daughter and I ran eight miles as part of our training regimen for the half-marathon we’re running together in January. It was a victorious day for both of us. My twenty-two year old daughter had never run this distance. And I hadn’t run this distance in probably 10 years. We were elated.

On Monday of this week, just as I was about to begin another training run, I jammed my toe into a piece of furniture accidentally because I had moved it temporarily to get something out from behind it and had forgotten to move it back. My little toe crashed right into the chair leg as I was rushing through my house. I landed onto the floor in pain.

I knew what I had done was bad. The level of pain and the immediate swelling proved to me that it was not just a stubbed toe. My mind immediately went to the place of resigning and accepting a long time of healing.

“Well, there goes my half-marathon race,” I thought to myself.  It was exactly nine weeks until my race.  And with the possibility of a broken toe, I knew I wouldn’t be able to train for weeks.

My next thought was one of faith.

I’ll have to trust God.

As the day went on, my toe hurt worse. I iced it, but by eleven p.m. the bruising had spread in between my toes and onto my actual foot. It was purple, red, and swollen and I could feel a small bump on the side of my toe.  It was so bad that my daughter couldn’t look at it.

I looked up images of broken toes on the Internet and saw that the pictures looked very similar to my toe. Everything I read indicated I had a broken toe. The bad news was that it takes six to eight weeks for a broken toe to heal.

I taped my little toe to the toe next to it and thought, "I am not going to have this accident ruin God's good plans for me. I AM going to run this race." And I prayed for a miracle.

I went to bed with peace and asked the Lord to heal my toe.

When I awoke yesterday morning, my toe was still hurting enough for me to limp, but as the day went on I noticed it was getting better. I never took anything for the pain. I have a very high tolerance for pain. I delivered my son with no epidural or any other pain medication other than local anesthesia for the stitches to be put in place. I honestly didn’t think much about my toe yesterday.

Today (two days after the accident) I have absolutely no pain in my toe. It doesn’t hurt to touch it. It doesn’t hurt to wiggle it. I cut the tape off and was astounded to see that the swelling was completely gone and the bruising is significantly better. By tomorrow, I’m sure the discoloration will be gone altogether.

The Lord healed my toe, just like He has healed me from other things in the past.

If I had resigned to the pain I would not be doing my race in January.  As followers of Christ, we can live in victory.

I've seen many fake miracles on T.V. over the years. The Bible clearly tells us that there are counterfeit miracles. 

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (NAS)

But the Bible also tells us that in Jesus Christ there are many real miracles.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Act 6:8 (NAS)

God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Hebrews 2:4 (NAS)

They did not remember His power, the day when He redeemed them from the adversary…Psalm 78:42 (NAS)

So Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe." John 4:48 (NAS)

 

They performed His wondrous acts among them, And miracles in the land of Ham. Psalm 105:27 (NAS)

God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul… Acts 19:11 (NAS)

…In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:19 (NAS)

A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. John 6:2 (NAS)

 
And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. Mark 16:20 (NLT)

Most importantly Jesus said, we would do even greater things than He did.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12 (NIV)

I've never been one to attend healing conferences and miracle services. I've been the one who has stayed at home seeking to know God better through studying my Bible and praying as often as possible. But the closer I get to Christ, the more I see miracles in my life.

When we step up and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ then the non-believers will see the power of Christ working through and in us.

We are called to be the salt and light of the world. Let us go forth as disciples of Christ and walk in faith performing miracles in His name. Let us live in victory so that the doubters will watch and see that Jesus is the Messiah of the world.

Live Abundantly!

Amy

Beauty for Ashes

It was a clear, winter day and I was sitting on the family room floor making valentines. I was 8 years old and didn’t have a care in the world. I was enjoying the moment I was in and safe in the comfort of my home with my mom close by in the kitchen.

That’s the last thing I remember before I heard my mother’s panicked voice hollering out, “It’s a fire!” 

I looked up and there I saw the kitchen curtains engulfed in flames. My mom tried putting the fire out, but her main concern was my safety.

We ran outside to get away from the smoke. A gentleman who had seen the smoke from the post office next door ran over to our house, grabbed a hose, busted a window and put the fire out.

Later on that day, we went back inside to assess the damage. In a matter of minutes, the flames had completely destroyed our kitchen, and the smoke had damaged most of our house. 

We never stayed in that house another day. We packed up our salvageable items and moved in with my grandparents for a few months. My parents made the decision to build a new house a few miles away. It was months before our beautiful, new home was completed.           

My life had been turned upside down by the rampant flames that raged through my house on that winter day. It was difficult to have my life so shaken up, but knowing a beautiful home was being built for my family helped to ease the difficulties. I remember visiting the new home often to see the progress that was being made.

I’ll always remember the day I first saw my completed bedroom with the brand new carpet I picked out myself. It was breathtaking—nothing like my young heart had ever experienced. It was almost more than I could take in at once. It was amazing. After losing my old home and many of the things I had been attached to, the new home was sweetness to my soul.

The new life Christ has given me is much like the new home I moved into after the fire during my childhood. Before I fully surrendered my life to Christ's purposes for me, fiery trials swept through my life and destroyed many things that were important to me. After surrendering everything to Jesus, He rebuilt my life and turned the ashes of my past into a beautiful display of splendor.

I remember times when I wondered if I would ever have beauty in my life again. The stress of a struggling marriage relationship, the tension from strained finances, and not being physically well—it seemed impossible. 

As I wrestled to believe, my faith won and things began turning around for me. Step by step, Christ renewed my marriage, restored our finances, and taught me ways to improve my health. 

When we believe things are hopeless, then we will have a hopeless life. When we teeter on the fence of disbelief, we miss out on the miracles the Bible promises we will see. 

In 2009, I made a commitment to stop doubting God forever. Whenever a doubtful thought taunts me, I meditate on the scriptures to bring life to a worn out and weary spirit. Doubt cannot penetrate a heart that is fixated on the truth of God’s Word.

Christ has good plans to give every person a future filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He is the redeemer and restorer of broken lives.

Are you struggling to believe God for good things? Leave fear and doubt behind and begin believing that Christ is the author of beauty. Surrender it all to Him and watch as He rebuilds and recreates the beautiful life He longs to give all His children. 

Trust Him to give you beauty to replace the pain of your past. He will bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes and He will give you the oil of gladness instead of mourning. He will plant you firmly in His promises to be displayed as a glorious vessel of His magnificent splendor.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61: 1-3

Live Abundantly!

Amy 

This post has been revised from a piece originally written several years ago. The above picture is one of me at the Biltmore House gardens. 

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.