God Listens

Jeremiah 33:3a – “Call unto me and and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…”

After having brain tumor surgery, I was in the ICU at the hospital for weeks.  There, I had a nurse named Liz. Her family was originally from the Bahamas, so she had the remnants of an islander accent. I was never as happy as when I heard that accent on the other side of the curtain.  She was the best nurse I’ve ever had! And it wasn’t because she was the sweetest, kindest nurse I have had.  In fact, she was mostly matter of fact, firm, and business-like.  But….She listened.  She didn’t ignore me when I rocked back and forth in my hospital bed because the pain in my head was overwhelming.  She matter-of-factly told me that I needed to calm down and stop crying because it would only make my head hurt worse.  But… she got me the pain medication that I needed.  She had to tell me the hard things and show me the not so pleasant things.  But….She listened.  She answered my questions, even though they were most likely quite obvious to her.  She didn’t get annoyed when I asked her the same questions for the fifteenth time.

Liz is a good reminder to me of how God listens to us.  When we pray for something for the fifteenth time, when we cry out to him because the pain of our heart seems too overwhelming, when we just need someone to hear us, He is there.  He answers us with what He knows is best for us, which may not be what we requested.  But His love for us gives what we need, and comforts our hearts through difficult times.  God gives us the encouragement we need in Jeremiah 33:3 when He says, “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things….”  God listens to us, answers us, and gives us what we need.  Take comfort in knowing that God listens.

Dwelling in Peace

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…. and be thankful.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.

Colossians 3:15 & 16

 The dove is the universal sign for peace. I often wonder why it is always seen as flying away.  Does the dove carry the worry, anxiety, anger, frustration and fear away from people? Or does it just represent a calming effect as we see its beauty in flight? Peace is a common theme in our world and many people seem to be searching for it. Peace from war, peace from anger, peace in the hectic pace of life we live. Yet, God gives us the perfect way to experience peace in our lives. It is by letting the Word of God dwell in our hearts, which brings a thankful heart, which brings us peace.

How do we let the Word of Christ dwell in our hearts? By reading and interacting with it. Are we spending time with God by reading his letter to us? It is here that we find truth which gets rid of all doubt and fear and brings peace to our hearts.  It amazing how much dwelling on truth, instead of lies and fallacies, helps us be at peace!  Also, these concepts are intertwined with each other. You really can’t have one without the other. If the Word is dwelling and permeating our hearts and minds, we are thankful and then the peace of Christ can rule in our lives. From salvation to everyday living, it takes the Word to change our lives from sin, chaos, anger, and frustration to peace, thankfulness, love, and grace.

In this season of thanksgiving, may we find ways to be interacting with the Word of God, letting it permeate our hearts and minds, creating a heart of thankfulness and a spirit of peace.

Catch the Wave

“He has done great things for us, which make us glad.”Psalm 126:3

The waves were huge, leftover from hurricane that came through a few days ago. The huge waves were the best ones to surf!  Waves after a storm are fantastic compared to everyday, normal waves. We often look at our life as a dreaded wave towering over us.  Instead, we should be waiting for it, surfboard in hand, eager to ride the wave through life’s journey.

When we are looking at the difficulties of life, we lose sight of the goodness of God.  All we can see are the problems.  We must try to look beyond the problems, to God, who is in control of every situation in life, and has proven Himself to be faithful in past situations.

As we deal with the issues of life, we need to begin to look for the ways God is good to us.  As we are in the midst of busy, hectic times, we need to actively remember the ways God has been good to us.  I Chronicles 16:12 says, “Remember His marvelous works that He has done….”  What better way to take our eyes off the difficulties of life and focus them on the faithfulness of God. We also need to pass on to others the faithfulness that God showed us.  Psalm 126:3 is a praise to God for bringing the nation of Israel out of captivity.  It is called a Psalm of Ascents because as they are ascending the mountain to the temple, they are singing this song for the entire world to hear.

Ride the wave of your journey through life, recounting the goodness of God and your focus will change from fear of the issues on the journey, to faith in the goodness of God to care for those issues.

]]> http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/catch-the-wave-2/feed/ 7 joshu909598 Catch the Wave http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/fall-majesty/ http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/fall-majesty/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:22:12 +0000 Joanna Shumaker http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/?p=452 ]]> Fall Majesty

Psalm 96:6 – “Honor and majesty are before Him. Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.”

Today, I’m reflecting on the beauty and majesty of God’s creation. It is finally a tad chilly here in Tennessee which makes me think that maybe….just maybe we will have a fall season here in Tennessee. Yesterday, when I was going through pictures I took of the fall leaves last year, I realized all the bold and strong colors God put into his creation. As I looked at the striking colors of the leaves in the pictures, the word that came to mind is majesty. The vibrant colors showed God’s majesty. The colors of fall are bold, reflecting His strength, and beautiful, reflecting his majesty. They become a sanctuary for me to feel God’s presence.

As you take time to reflect, look for God’s majesty around you.  You may find it in unexpected places, or you may find it in the simplicity of nature.

Heard this song today and was encouraged to see life through God’s perspective.  If you are struggling today, know that He is there for you, and rest in the comfort of His arms. Blessings as you listen!

]]> http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/a-view-from-heavens-perspective/feed/ 0 joshu909598 http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/the-encroaching-vine-of-busyness/ http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/the-encroaching-vine-of-busyness/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:49:03 +0000 Joanna Shumaker http://renewingyourspirit.wordpress.com/?p=430 ]]>

The Encroaching Vine of Busyness

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest.”
Matthew  11:28

“Wow!” I thought. “These trees are really thick on this road.  I can’t even see through the branches!” The side of the road was a mass of green leafy trees, so brilliant in the sun, and I was amazed at how many of them seemed so close together.  As I kept driving, however, I noticed that I couldn’t see any part of the trunks of the trees.  It seemed like leaves were cascading down the
trunk, instead of up to the light of the sun. It was then I realized that the trees were being overtaken by a broad leafy vine.  The vines had completely encased the trunks of the trees, all the branches, and the tree was actually in the process of dying.  “How sad,” I thought to myself.  “All this beautiful, luscious greenery is actually crippling and killing these trees.”

It is the same way with sin in our lives – in particular, the sin of busyness. When we are so busy doing things that seem good, positive, and beneficial, we can lose sight of what those “good” things are doing to our lives.  They are slowly encroaching on our personal time alone with God, and our quality time with those we love.  We keep adding events, and meetings, and ministry opportunities to our lives that fall into the “good thing to do” category, but we are slowly overtaken by our schedule. The busy lifestyle we have chosen slowly starts to crush our spirit and discourage our soul. We feel like all we are doing is “keeping up,” and we become useless in our service for God as a wife, mother, friend, as well as in our church ministry.

God did not mean for life to be this way. He gave us the principle of rest starting in Genesis 2 when he established a day of rest. All throughout the Bible this theme of rest continues.  In Matthew, God entreats us to come to Him and rest.  We need to look at our lives, cut out the vine of busyness at its root, so that it doesn’t overtake us and make us useless servants for God. Find ways to cut out the busyness in your life, so that your relationship with God and others can flourish and grow.

The LORD will accomplish that which concerns you.
Psalm 138:8a

Like the frayed edges of a flower after a storm, I stood helplessly staring out the window.  Life was uncertain, confusing and empty. Where was God in all of this?  What was his plan? How could He make sense of this?

We all have experienced these feelings at some point in our life, and we have experienced it for different reasons.  We  want to know – what’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen, and when it’s going to happen!  I would love to say  that if you just have enough faith, or if you just walk closely with God, or if you just pray hard enough …. You will know.  The truth is that sometimes, God is just silent – silent in how He’s answers us, but not silent in how He comforts us.  As we wait, He has given us “great and precious promises” to cling to. The question becomes whether or not we are clinging to them.

As the rain storm stops, the frayed edges of the flower are left with many droplets of water to nourish and feed the flower. The droplets of truth and comfort from God’s Word are the truths we need to cling to in order to nourish  our weary souls.  God is still there, working in your life; although, He may not have answered yet.  Go and find the comfort in His Word that He has for you today!

Waiting for Spring

Wait on the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord Psalm 27:14

The buds have just opened and Spring is just coming into bloom. The snow on the ground is gone. Waiting for Spring takes patience that I don’t have at all!  I was reminded of my impatience for waiting on God’s timing.  When the burdens of life are like the snow – melting too slowly – I am impatient for God to lift them and let the new life come out.  I don’t want the burdens of life weighing me down.  I want the breezy, newness of life to lift me up!  Why must I wait – because if the spring buds open too early, they often get a late winter freeze.  Waiting for the right timing to open brings out a beautiful flower, much prettier than I ever expected. Waiting for the timing of God until He brings things to pass makes life much more beautiful than I ever expected.

            As you journey through times of waiting for God’s answer, remember that His timing is best.  It is hard to wait, but His strength will get you through.  His answer will be the best, if you just wait for it.

GOD ANSWERS HIS KNEE-MAIL

By Cindy Rooy

            Two images have never left my memory. The first is seeing my father on his knees beside his bed, head bowed, and praying with emotion in the middle of the night. The second is observing a man – over 90 years old – gladly kneel, but with difficulty, to pray at a community gathering. The time of day and one’s age are no longer an excuse. Are we too proud, lazy, or indifferent to kneel before the Lord?

            I felt God’s nudging to make prayer an active part of my morning. That meant pulling away from my memory foam bed and pillow, and literally getting on my knees. I was willing to demonstrate a submissive spirit, but after four surgeries, any pressure on what used to be my right kneecap brought tears. Not liking the idea of getting up earlier, and wanting confirmation from God that He wanted me to do this, I asked Him to be my alarm clock. Not only did He give me divine wake-up calls precisely at the requested time, He wouldn’t let me fall back to sleep. After a week of kneeling in early-morning prayer, God took away all of my knee pain.

            When we submit to Him, God rewards us. And He answers our knee-mail. Kneeling represents submission and humbling oneself, and that puts our thoughts and attitudes in the right perspective as we come before God with our praise, confession, gratitude, and requests.

            How often do we humble ourselves before the Lord? Do we consciously note that He is holy and we are not? The Lord told Isaiah, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit” (Isaiah 66:2). Peter and James quote Solomon’s proverb, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” They add that we are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand (1Peter 5:5-6), and submit ourselves to God (James 4:6-7).  

            The Bible gives a detailed account that a leper, synagogue ruler, Canaanite woman, and father of a demon-possessed son had knelt before Jesus with their request. A punishable decree did not stop Daniel from getting down on his knees 3 times a day to pray. Paul informed his readers that he knelt before the Father in his prayers. It didn’t matter where, for Paul, along with the disciples and their families, prayed while kneeling on a beach. Even Jesus knelt in prayer to His Father in heaven. There is a spiritual correlation between humility, submissiveness, and kneeling in prayer. David advises us to, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:6).

            Jesus humbled Himself to be obedient to death on a cross, and God exalted Him so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:8-11). We can do that now, and put into practice what we learn from the Bible. Let’s humble ourselves in submission to God, kneel in prayer, and notice a difference in our attitude, prayers, and God’s response.

 “Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children…” Ephesians 5:1

She came in to my room, all excited to show me her “surprise.”  As she burst in, she said, “I be like you, mommy!  I be like you!”  To my amusement she had concealer on her eyelids, lipstick every which way, and nail polish on her fingernails! (Well, sort of on her nails)  I couldn’t help but laugh, but not too hard so as not to disappoint her. J  It took a half-hour to get off the makeup and nail polish, and another half-hour to put the nail polish back on correctly – But it made my day!  The look of pure joy on her face as she presented to me what she thought was being like mommy.

            This was a poignant reminder to me of how God wants us to be imitators of Him.  As we go throughout our daily routine, we should try to keep this in mind. Asking ourselves the question, “Is what I’m saying or doing, imitating the God I love?”  If only it were as easy as putting on some makeup! It takes a daily dose of the Word of God in our lives to help us keep focused on imitating Him. If you can picture the pure enjoyment that comes from watching a child imitating someone he/she loves, you can imagine the joy God must feel when He sees us working to imitate Him!