Monday, February 21, 2011

Divine Interventions

I am so fortunate to have a group of women at church who love the Lord and love to get together and study the Bible.  We are currently studying Priscilla Shirer's Jonah-Navigating a Life Interrupted.  I am really enjoying it.  It is all about dealing with all of the "interruptions" that come our way in this life.....all the times things are not going like WE think they should.   I've learned that these are not interruptions but divine interventions with God.  We are so fortunate that God wants to partner with us to get through whatever it is we are facing.  Another point made, that I have heard before, that I totally know to be true is that when we are frustrated and feel that things are not happing "naturally," it's because God has the supernatural in store for us.  It's during these struggles and interruptions that we learn to rely on God and receive the blessing of seeing Him all around us working in everything.  

I have a sweet friend who has just endured the most painful struggle I can imagine-she lost her 13 year old son tragically and unexpectedly in December.  He was a friend of my sons and we know the whole, sweet family.  They are wonderful people and I can't imagine the pain they have endured.    Last Tuesday I went to hear her speak to our community about the "interruption" they have encountered with the loss of their beloved son.  She was absolutely amazing.  She gave the most beautiful testimony and shared the supernatural encounters they have had with God through all of this.   God has worked in front of their eyes and behind the scenes through this all and she glorified Him in sharing Him with us all.  I was blessed to be in that audience and I am blessed to be her friend.  God is so good, all of the time.  He's good when we are feeling the blessings overflow around us and He is good when the valley is dark.  He is always good and always at work for the greater good.  What peace that brings!

I've recently started to do a daily devotional with Reed.  He's 14 now and I really feel God urging me not to let these valuable years pass me by....to use every day to help him grow closer to God and to learn that a heart full of love for God is all that really ever matters.  When we were talking and reading last night, we were talking a little bit about how hard it is to be a teenager and resist things that some kids are consumed with.  He opened his Bible and read me a verse that they had learned about in FCA months ago.   Dear Brothers and Sisters, when trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:2.   It meant so much to me for him to open his Bible and share this with me and how awesome is God for bringing me this word through my son.  First, He sent this word through my church friends, then my dear friend, Kristi, and now through my sweet son.  It is a lesson I will cherish.   How awesome to look at strife and trouble with joyful eyes.  There may not always be "happiness" in certain situations, but there can always be JOY when we live with the Spirit of the Lord in our hearts and the Word of God on our tongues.   Thankfully, there is no trouble greater than God.

3 comments:

  1. Hi,
    I'm a total stranger to you(Katy's mom and I are GOOD friends), but thank you for just the words I needed to hear on this Tuesday morning. You have obviously been a great role model for your son as well as others and it is clear that we need to share our "divine interventions" every chance we get.
    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Sandra White

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  2. hey there..i was very excited to see your new blog post...you write so beautifully and from the heart... i can tell God really speaks to you and you have such a way of sharing it with others..thanks!!! i love the way you speak of divine interventions with God...what a great way to look at life...this is going to sound simple but it's almost like it's all in the way we perceive things and what "lens" we are looking through...and i like the way Priscilla puts it!! Reed is one lucky boy..In the book I'm reading, Bringing Up Boys..they say teenage boys tend to forget everything we taught them but to stick with them and don't give up keep supporting them... your an inspiration to all moms....hugs on this gorgeous day!!!

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  3. Oh, thank you so much for the sweet comments. Sandra....it is so nice to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words. I love Mrs. Charlotte and Katy!
    And, my sweet Sherry....thank you. You are so right....it's all in the way we choose to look at things and with the spirit we choose to respond. You are one of the most precious people I know with the most gentle spirit of anyone I know! THank you for reminding me of Bringing up Boys! I read it when Reed was about 3 and I surely need to revisit it! Reed is such a good boy with an amazing heart....but with just turning 14 I was starting to worry about him. He is appearing to have forgotten many things! :) But God has lead me to hold on very tightly. I am! I know he will be fine....I'm just not taking any chances and don't want to look back in two years and wish I had done more. :)
    Thanks again to both of you for the sweet words of encouragement!

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