"Obedience is never a waste:
it is an investment in a future we cannot see."
- Alicia Britt Chole
"The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be.
It may seem to be much worse, but in the end
it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger."
- Elisabeth Elliot
“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up
and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.
You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”
- Anne Lamott
And this is one that one of my blog friends (also a PW),
Melissa from over at The Diaper Heads, sent to me.
She e-mailed and said the Lord laid it on her heart
to give me this scripture and to insert my name in it...
and here's what it said:
"Listen to Me, Deanna,
you who I have upheld since you were conceived
and have carried since your birth.
Even in your old age and gray hairs,
I AM He who will sustain you,
I have made you and I will carry you.
I will sustain you and I will rescue you! "
Isaiah 46:3-4
Those of you who know anything about my personal history know exactly why this scripture would mean so much. Thanks, Melissa...words can't express what your obedience to send that scripture means...can't wait to meet you face to face at Unstoppable!!!
On another note I had been reading through I and II Peter this past week in my personal devotions. Usually I stay pretty much on track with where I'm at in the Word in any given week. However yesterday morning when I woke up, as I was turning there -- a bookmark was in Haggai. I stopped there for a moment, started reading and didn't stop til' I finished the book. I never realized the richness of this book before! It's uncanny how much it relates to my life right now. I devoured it and have since been reading all kinds of commentaries on the book. There's too much for one blog post as far as what God is speaking to me from it and quite truthfully I'm just beginning to process it all. But the great thing is, I'm sensing His presence...feeling Him begin to speak to me again. And I can't tell you how much that means to a person like me who is used to just flowing in conversation with God and then...silence. Hearing God's voice is such a comfort.
I BLESS THE LORD AND THANK HIM BECAUSE...
1) I'm starting to hear Him...above the din of the circumstances...little by little.
2) I'm gaining some insight and wisdom I couldn't have gotten in any other way. One scripture I have leaned on in times past is: Isaiah 45:3: "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." One thing I am seeing through this time is that I am getting some treasures in the darkness that couldn't be gained any other way.
3) I feel a re-positioning coming on. (No, that doesn't mean I'm moving, it doesn't mean I'm changing jobs, yada yada...please don't read into that...) To further explain...my favorite quote of the week comes from author Alicia Britt Chole. She says this:
"Sometimes God corners us. Through disappointment, closed doors, conflict or unwanted events, He cuts off routes we were planning on taking so He can reposition us. As we yield to His repositioning, God draws our attention to opportunities we might never have considered."
And what I'm sensing right now is that God is cornering me for a repositioning. More on this later.
4) Last but not least (in fact I almost put it first!) I've found out who my real friends are. :-) Some I was already aware of...others are a new and welcome surprise. It's amazing who God brings into your life, or brings you closer to through struggles. If you are one of those people in my life I want to thank you for being God's hand extended. Some of you have gone through real depression before...not just circumstantial but clinical, and you have been my "understanding" saving grace. You've reached a hand to me, some of you all the way from Africa or the West Coast of the USA, and helped me begin to get out of bed. Things are starting to even out a little bit. Those of you who have been through it (and some who are still there) can understand and appreciate what I mean by that.
I'm headed to church this morning expecting a great service...will try to blog later...
My prayers are with every one of you ...that God would bless and increase you and yours today...may he bless you hundred fold for how you've encouraged me. ((hugs))
Comments
Still praying for you - I totally understand being depressed and yet somehow getting up and doing what we need to do, even if we don't feel like it. This is what separates the good/okay pastors from the GREAT ones :o).
it is an investment in a future we cannot see."
- Alicia Britt Chole
Deanna,
love that quote. Thanks for sharing with us today and I pray your services were an awesome encounter with the Holy Spirit. May you continue to INVEST in obedience!
-blessings, Laurie
To answer your question, no you are not the only one who cries at sunsets! It's my favorite time of the day. I love to see God's handiwork! The beautiful pictures he paints lets me know that He loves me and cares about me!
You bless, Deanna! Keep posting! I soke it up!
i do have a question...where exactly is that verse that you just mentioned. it's beautiful and i never noticed it either but i'd like to have the reference if you remember it...
so nice to find people who undertand...
you are loved
I blogged about this verse at one time and left out the second part of the verse because the first part was so powerful to me. I imagined my Christ..looking into my eyes, not needing to say a word, but knowing exactly my heart's cry- then, taking my hand and lifting me from my dispair. AFter blogging about it, several blog sisters pointed out the importance of the second part as those parts were equally as important- but at that time, it was part A that spoke to me...at times, he literally had to drag me up- and carry me on. since then, I've noticed similar verses and also noticed that as the disciples went out after Christ left the earth, many of their actions mirrored his...this is fascinating to me. I'll have to search for these verse as well.