Month: December 2011

God’s P.L.A.N.

Leave a comment

A sweet friend is reading Max Lucado’s Just Like Jesus and thought of me when she read the following:

Four questions we should ask in order to stay on course with our lives:

  1. Am I fitting into God’s plan? “He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (2 Peter 3:9 TEV) If God’s goal is the salvation of the world, then my goal should be the same.
  2. What are my longings? Our assignment is found at the intersection of God’s plan and our pleasures. What do you love to do? What brings you joy? What gives you a sense of satisfaction? The longings of your heart are not incidental; they are critical messages/
  3. What are my abilities? Identify your strengths, and, then – this is important – major in them. Failing to focus on our strengths may prevent us from accomplishing the unique tasks God has called us to do.
  4. Am I serving God now?  Want to bring focus to your life? Do what Jesus did. Go home, love your family and take care of business? Your first mission field is under your roof? What makes you think they’ll believe you overseas, if they don’t believe you across the hall? (Jesus knew at the age of 12 He was the Son of God and knew what His calling was, but He did not begin His ministry until the age of 30.)

Am I fitting into God’s Plan?

What are my Longings?

What are my Abilities?

Am I serving God Now?

Ask yourself the four questions. You may find that you are hitting some good shots, but in the wrong direction. “From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God’s will and not by human desires.” (1 Peter 4:2 TEV) Regardless of what has controlled you in the past, it’s never too late to get your life on course and be a part of God’s P.L.A.N.

It is amazing and so encouraging to know when God is listening to you! You can be thinking or questioning something and He will provide the answer to someone else to share with you. All Glory to Him!

Why all the fuss?

Leave a comment

Why is that we believe the lies that are told to us? Why is it so much easier to believe we are worthless, ugly, too much of something and not enough of the other? Why do we continue to sulk and seek to make ourselves “better”? Better for who? And who makes the call on what is “better”?

You know when you start looking at the lies for what they are, they become so ridiculous but yet still so hard to let go or to undo the damage they have caused. So, those lies then become other lies…I mean, really where does the devil get away with corrupting us like He does? His hatred for God and all of His children runs so deep he will do anything, say anything just to keep us from the Truth.

I have to admit, the lies he has been telling me forever run very deep. They are so woven into my character, my personality, I don’t know who or what I would look like without them…I may be nicer, kinder, less defensive. I often wonder who is the woman God originally wanted me to be? What would she look like and would she be on this path I am on now?

I can sit here and think how I should and could be better. I can focus on all I am not or I can worship a God who loves me anyway. A God who despises the lies I listen to and, honestly, ALL the time I spend on the “problem” instead of The Answer!

Which leads me to the conclusion…If I am so worthless, ugly and just not a threat, why all the fuss? Why doesn’t the devil just leave me alone? Maybe, he knows who I really am and the power and authority I have been given scares the bejeezus out of him? Maybe he’s just as scared of you?

Legacy of Love

Leave a comment

I have been Blessed to live at Shepherd’s Village for almost 3 years. Shepherd’s Village is a Christ-Centered Residential Ministry for single parents. Shepherd’s Village is an environment which encourages its residents to gain, not independence, but dependence on God. Shepherd’s Village has been instrumental in leading me to the road I am on now.

Shepherd’s Village is the ministry and calling placed on the heart of Phyllis Alderman. Phyllis has a heart to lead and minister single women as they walk on a path all too familiar to her. She raised 2 children on her own and because of her passion and heart, and later her commitment to the Lord, her children have grown to be wonderful parents.

Without Phyllis, Shepherd’s Village would only be an apartment complex for single mothers and not the community it is. The friendships  and accountability developed here are only because of the dedication and commitment Phyllis has poured into all of the residents. She is the heart of Shepherd’s Village.

This year we celebrate 20 years of the Shepherd’s Village ministry. We also celebrate the merger of Shepherd’s Village and New Life Solutions which will allow Phyllis’ dream to continue well into future.

Our annual fundraising dinner and silent auction was held this past Friday and the theme was Legacy of Love. I believe Phyllis chose this as the theme because she feels the legacy we are given the opportunity to begin here can only be formed and guided by love. But as I thought about it this weekend, Legacy of Love is appropriate not because of the legacy that begins at Shepherd’s Village, but because of the legacy Phyllis begun  long ago when she did all she could to change the path of her life, that of her children’s and those of us who have lived, live and will live at Shepherd’s Village.

Phyllis is a Legacy of Love! I, only pray, I become as committed to my calling as she is to hers!

Shepherd’s Village is a 501 3(c) not-for-profit ministry. If you would like to support Shepherd’s Village and its residents, please contact Phyllis at 727-216-1402 ext.500 or at info@shepherdsvillage.com. 

 

Come Out From Them and Be Separate

Leave a comment

A young girl sat in the full waiting room of the clinic, her heart hammering, her stomach so tense she felt sick. One girl sat crying silently while an older, narrow-eyed, tight-lipped woman sat beside her. A woman in her late thirties sat with her slender legs crossed reading Fortune. Another girl, in her early teens, in a pair of baggy black Levi’s and a scoop-necked white T-shirt sat forward, knees and toes together, beside her a friend in a short black skirt and tight red sweater.

No one spoke. No one met the gaze of another. They stared down at their hands or a magazine or off into space.

The young girl closed her eyes tightly, praying for strength.
I AM HERE, BELOVED. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO LOVES YOU.

The door opened, and a woman in white stood looking at her clipboard. “Number nine.”

The waiting room emptied of one.

The young girl hunched in her chair. Oh, God, oh, God, I’m so scared. I want to go home.

COME OUT FROM THEM, BELOVED, AND BE SEPARATE, AND I WILL LEAD YOU IN THE WAY EVERLASTING.

Shaking, she got up.

Her boyfriend clamped his hand around her wrist. “Where’re you going?” he said in a hushed, taut voice.

She leaned down and whispered. “I don’t want to do this.”

He pulled her down beside him again. “Do you think I do?”

“Then let’s leave.”

“And do what?” He leaned closer, speaking so only she could hear. “Look, this isn’t easy for me, either. Don’t make it any harder. We’ve been over this a hundred times. There’s nothing else we can do.”

She tried not to cry. Crying only upset him more. She didn’t want him to get mad at her. “I don’t think I can go though it.”

“You said your parents would disown you.”

THOUGH YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER FORSAKE YOU, I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

“And what about school?”

“There must be another way.”

“What other way? You tell me what other way.”

She looked up at him pleadingly. “We could get married.”

“Yeah, right,” he said sotto voice. “And live on what? Love?”

“I’d work…”

“Give me a break. At that fast-food place? Making minimum wage? And what about after the baby comes? Kiss my future good-bye. I want to go to college. Remember?”

Her eyes burned with tears at his tone. He had been so sweet and tender before they had sex. After the first time, that was all he ever wanted. And now that she was pregnant, he was angry with her most of the time. It wasn’t all her fault she was in this condition. She’d only forgotten to take her pill that one day, and he’d never once taken precautions.

“I’m scared,” she said in a soft shaky voice.

TRUST ME. I AM YOUR ROCK AND YOUR FORTRESS. I AM YOUR DELIVERER, BELOVED. TAKE REFUGE IN ME, FOR I AM YOUR SHIELD AND THE HORN OF YOUR SALVATION. CALL TO ME AND I WILL RESCUE YOU FROM YOUR ENEMIES. THE CORDS OF DEATH WILL NOT ENTANGLE YOU…

“I’m scare, too,” he said, surprising her.

“I want to leave.”

He took her hand and held it tightly. She could feel the perspiration on his palms. “I’ve heard it’s not so bad,” he said bleakly.

SEEK ME, BELOVED, AND I WILL ANSWER YOU. I WILL DELIVER YOU. I WILL BE YOUR HIDING PLACE. I WILL PROTECT YOU AND SURROUND YOU WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE.

“It’s only supposed to take a few minutes. By tomorrow, it’ll all be behind us.”

She looked at her boyfriend and saw how uncomfortable he was. He didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He just wanted to get it over and get out of here.

Oh, God, I don’t want to lose him.

I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD AND THERE IS NO OTHER.

Her heart jumped as the door opened again.

TURN TO ME IN YOUR HOUR OF NEED AND I WILL…

Her number was called.

…LOVE YOU WITH A LOVE THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

She hesitated.

“Go,” her boyfriend said, looking at her imploringly.

DO NOT HIDE YOUR FACE FROM ME, BELOVED. I LOVE YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE. I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU. HEED MY VOICE.

Her number was called again. She wanted to jump and run screaming from the room.

CALL OUT TO ME AND I WILL BRING YOU UP OUT OF THIS PIT OF DESPAIR AND SET YOUR FEET UPON THE ROCK. I WILL PROTECT YOU. I WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU. OH, MY BELOVED CHILD, YOU ARE SO VERY PRECIOUS TO ME, SO PRECIOUS I DIED FOR YOU AND ROSE AGAIN THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE IN ME. TRUST ME. OH, MY BELOVED, TRUST ME.

Her boyfriend took her hand and stood. Heart hammering, she stood with him.

He didn’t take her out of the clinic. He handed her over to the woman in the doorway with the clipboard in her hand. The woman smiled and said everything would be all right. Letting go of her, the boy stepped back and turned away. As the girl went forward, she looked back and knew she was alone. When the door closed, death surrounded her.

And into the silence and separation that followed could be heard the weeping of God’s only begotten Son, the Atonement Child.

– Epilogue, The Atonement Child, Francine Rivers