Category: Encouragement

In the year King Uzziah died

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I requested my friends to give me a verse and I would assign them a week for me to study the verse and pray it over their life. This week the verse is Isaiah 6:1:

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

I am not sure about you, but I am not a Bible scholar. When I read this verse, I really didn’t get much from it so I needed to find out what Isaiah meant by those words. Reading scripture can often be intimidating and often confusing. I believe that the Bible is God-breathed. Yes, imperfect humans penned it, but the Spirit of God inspired the words. Since I am not a Bible scholar, I have commentaries from those who are.

Here are the words from The Tony Evans Bible Commentary. I pray they bring this verse to life and when you read it, it will remind you of this powerful lesson.

“Here we see the prophet’s life-changing vision of God’s overwhelming holiness and his call to ministry. It was a very crucial point in the history of Judah. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. So although Judah was experiencing turmoil at the death of its king, the true King was seated on his throne in sovereign glory. Isaiah thus learned that the kingdom of God operates according to his will, not according to outward circumstances. If you embrace this kingdom principle, it will change your life.” (page 639)

Dr. Evans continues to say; “Sometimes it takes a tragedy in our lives, or other negative circumstances, for us to truly see God. We may know him as our Savior but not be growing in a day-by-day experience of adopting his perspective of the world and living in obedience to it. In fact, that’s one reason God sometimes allows difficult situations to come into our lives. They help shift our focus off the created things and onto the Creator. Until we adjust our vision from the temporal to the eternal, we may miss out on seeing the eternal altogether. God is not merely interested in getting us to heaven. He wants us to see and experience him here. Sometimes God is most clearly seen in the midst of painful situations.” (page 640)

Studying this verse and discovering this explanation is a real-life application of what Dr. Evans is saying. It isn’t sufficient to just accept Jesus as our Savior. We are given His word in the form of the Bible as a guide for us to “experience him here”. I encourage you to not skip over verses such as Isaiah 6:1 as simply a colorful description of what Isaiah saw, but dig deeper into why it was included at all. The greatest lessons in life often require some exploration on our part. Don’t miss out on what the Lord God has to say to you in His Word today!

Thanks to Dr. Delight Yokley who gave me this verse to study. May you continue to grow in the knowledge and assurance of how precious you are to God and to us, your friends!

That Friend

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Do you know that friend that always has a major crisis going on in his or her life? Every time you talk, their ongoing struggles consume the conversation? And all you want to say is “Get over yourself. You have made it through worse situations and frankly, there are people with even more difficult struggles”. Well, what happens when “that friend” is you?

What happens when you are the one that feels like you are a burden to the people around you? You feel like a Debbie Downer because every time you talk to them or send them a text, it’s about yet another thing you are going through? Right now, I am “that friend”.

Since last June, I have been working with a Counselor on multiple traumas I have experienced throughout my life and although the work done and the Counselor himself are extraordinary, it is completely overwhelming and exhausting.  I get so lost in, not in reliving the trauma, but the years it has stolen from me. Years of anger, depression, oppression, bad decisions that have kept me from the truth and the promises I have been afraid to pursue.

There are mornings that the healing pushes me to pursue God’s truth and His promises for me; and then, there are mornings—like this morning—when it takes everything in me not to call out of work. When I finally willed myself out of bed, instead of putting on my face of fortitude, I didn’t have the energy to put anything on my face at all.  I wanted so bad to reach out to my friends to ask them to pray for me because the weight was too much to bear. I started typing the text, but quickly deleted it as I remembered that just a couple of days earlier I had requested prayer for another crisis that was weighing me down.

Instead of reaching out to my friends as I wanted to, I chose to turn on the Christian radio station to tune out the chatter in my head. As soon as I heard the first song come on, I knew the Lord had taken over the song selection and was my very own DJ. Song after song, I felt the burden that was weighing me down lift right off of me. Song after song, I was reminded that I was not alone.

I was reminded that instead of keeping me from God’s truth and His promises for me, anger and all of the emotions I have felt for 30 years were protecting me from even darker roads than the ones I had travelled. That when I fixed my eyes on Him, I had finally found everything I needed. He lifted my soul and opened up my eyes. He is rewriting my story and nothing could be better.

This healing journey I am on is a difficult one and I know there will be tons more of good and not so good days ahead. But as I listened to the playlist on the radio, I realized that my angst not to text my friends was not because they wouldn’t be encouraging; the angst was the Lord prompting me to reach out to Him. In my fear of being “that friend”, I was reminded that Jesus was the only friend I needed.

The Right Prescription

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I remember packing up our childhood home and finding the tiniest glasses of mine. It was proof to me that I have worn glasses most of my life. Without them, I am not blind, but the world is a lot fuzzier.

Several years ago, after many years of not having insurance, I started a new job that included health insurance. As soon as I was eligible, I made an appointment for an eye exam. I knew I needed a new prescription, but it wasn’t until I put on my new prescription was when I became aware of how bad I needed the adjustment. It was like I was seeing the world with new eyes.

Since then, I have never missed my annual eye exam. I have learned that even in the short time of a year, our vision can change dramatically. Unfortunately, because it is often a slow change, we don’t notice it. We ignore the subtle symptoms that aren’t relieved until we put on the glasses with an updated prescription.

The Lord has been revealing to me that as my physical vision changes so does my spiritual vision. As we grow and draw near to our Abba Father, we must update our spiritual glasses. Just like the glasses I had as a child wouldn’t work for me now, the glasses I used to see the world as a child should not be the same glasses I should see the world now.

This past year and a half with a pandemic and the raw exposure of the continued racial injustice in our world, I don’t know how any of us can see the world with the same glasses. For me it has been not only an emotional awakening, but it has been a spiritual awakening. Thank God for finding the right prescription.

Pesky Gnats

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Among the several things and people I pray for, my daily prayer for years has been (in no particular order) for finances, Jake, general anxieties, and ETA of my husband. As I journaled this morning, the Lord took over my pen and wrote these words to me. My prayer is they are an encouragement to you as well:

“You don’t trust Me enough to guide your heart. Trust Me in all things. Trust Me to take care of Jake. Trust Me to protect you in the car. Trust Me to provide for you in so many more ways than food or rent. Trust Me to protect your heart and your mind. There are tons of things you covet in your mind. Help Me as we both, together, fight the thoughts that enter your mind. You are so weak mentally. There is no type of protection over your mind. The anxiety you have, the lust you allow, it is because you haven’t given Me your mind. Your husband won’t come until you give Me your mind.

I love you and the plans I have for you and your husband are wonderful! Way more grand than you could ever comprehend. I am excited for you to meet, fall in love with Me as a couple, and walk on the beautiful and hard terrain I have for you, but you need to be ready to walk that road. You need to prepare now so you won’t fall later. You are My beloved. It hurts Me when you fall, when you allow such things to control what you see and what you do. That is not of Me.

I give you desires for you to control not for them to control you. Those desires are a reminder that I have not forgotten you. But I also know a deeper desire is to follow Me, to do as I have designed for you.

Fear. That thought that just came into your mind that you aren’t good enough; that you can’t do it. See how we caught that thought like a gnat flying around? We can catch it and kill it or we just swat it enough for it to fly away for it to come back at some point. Sometimes you think you have killed it, but you weren’t even close. Don’t let the gnat or the thought of it returning distract you.

Let Me handle the gnats of your mind.”

I pray you are able to identify the gnats in your mind!

Know It All

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Several years ago, someone questioned my beliefs of speaking in tongues. He didn’t argue with me, he just wanted to know why I believed what I believed. I wasn’t sure how to answer him. A trustworthy person, earlier in life, had taught me something, and I adopted it as my own belief, no questions asked. Now the question was being asked. And I had no response.

Because of that experience, I have really become a student of the Word. I don’t want to just take on something because it sounds true. I want to be able to back up what I believe if ever questioned. In addition, I also like to ask the question that was asked of me “why do you believe that?” That question, as it did for me several years ago, has sparked many a conversations. Unfortunately, it has also sparked many arguments.

When did it become wrong to question someone? Is it that offensive to know someone’s thought process on his or her beliefs? Have we become so defensive that everything is interpreted as attack? Are our beliefs so absurd we would never want to share our reasoning with a person who genuinely wants to know our thoughts on the matter? Could we not learn from one another by questioning others? Is this not what Proverbs 27:17 mean when it says: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”?

Could it be that when we question someone’s beliefs, we get to know him or her a little better? Or if we are the ones being questioned, could it be an opportunity to share our beliefs with someone who may believe as we do? We are so quick to tell people when we are right and they are not, that we often forget that there is only One that knows it all and we are never too wise to learn something new!

But God…

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I was recently reminded that often when we are tested and tempted, it could be a sign that a reward for our faithfulness could be right around the corner. That with God and the Holy Spirit within us, there is always victory no matter how often we doubt and stumble.

She awaited the revelation, the appointed time, which spoke of the end and would not be proven false. Though it lingered, she waited for it because she knew it would certainly come and would not delay[1]. She had always prayed for falsehood and lies to be kept from her; she wanted neither poverty nor riches, but only her daily bread. Because she knew if she had too much she would disown her God. Or too little, she would steal and dishonor His name [2]. Yet she sat alone looking out the window, thinking, longing, “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish? In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back”[3].

He reminded her that He knew her deeds, her love and faith, her service and perseverance, and that she was now doing more than she did at first[4]. “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach; for I am your Maker, your Husband”[5]. Though once comforting, His words now seemed distant, unattainable. Knowing her heart so well, He continued, “forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you now perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”[6].

His words reminded her that He was faithful to all of His promises and loving toward all He has made. He was near to all who called on Him[7]. That if she delighted herself in Him, He would delight in her ways and make her steps firm. Though she stumbled, He would not fail her and give her the desires of her heart[8].

In her anguish, she cried out to the Lord and He answered by setting her free[9]. She then knew that if she only put her hope in Him, her strength and her spirit would always be renewed[10]. For perhaps the reason they were separated for this short while, was that they may be together forever[11].

[1] Habakkuk 2:3
[2] Proverbs 30:8-9
[3] Isaiah 38:17
[4] Revelation 2:19
[5] Isaiah 54:4-5
[6] Isaiah 43:18-19
[7] Psalms 145:13, 18
[8] Psalms 37:4, 23-24
[9] Psalms 118:5
[10] Isaiah 40:31
[11] Philemon 15

Endurance for the Long Journey

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The promises You have laid before me, Father, have required much of me. When I first accepted this journey, I was eager and excited. As of late, the length of the journey has left me exhausted and resistant to continue.  All I see before me is an endless sea with no land in sight. Yet, I look back and You remind me how far we have traveled and it stirs my heart to continue. Your words, your love, give me comfort. I may be exhausted, unmotivated, and often plain lazy, but search my heart and know that my desire is to follow You until the ends of the earth.

In the midst of this journey, I will rest on the promises of Your Words to me:

 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; 
    he brought me into a spacious place. ~ Psalm 118:5

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God. ~ Proverbs 30:8-9

I know your deeds,
     your love and faith,
     your service and perseverance,
     and that you are now doing more than you did at first. ~ Revelation 2:19

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come
    and will not delay. ~ Habakkuk 2:3

Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while
     was that you might have him back forever~ Philemon 1:15

 

Guatemala Bound x 2!

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The Lord has Blessed me…well, let me say He ALWAYS blesses me, but this has been a special shower of blessings.

As you all are well aware, a large piece of my heart is in Guatemala and I have literally ached because I have not been able to go since last March. Well, the Lord has heard my cry and is allowing me to go TWICE this year!! Isn’t He awesome???

The first trip will be from June 25-July 5. I just got word of this trip this week! I will be going with the local leaders as their translator. The team, which will arrive a few days later, will be doing a mini-VBS and mini-medical clinic.

The second trip which I had signed up for will be from October 21-28. This will be an Encouragement and Evangelism trip. The cost of this trip will be approximately $1,500. If you feel led to do so, I would be extremely grateful for your financial support towards the October trip. We all know that whenever we are on the path the Lord has for us, the enemy attacks, but we serve a MUCH GREATER God, so in addition to your financial support, I covet your prayers during the next few months!

Donations can be made out to Thomasville Baptist Church and can be either be mailed to me or directly to the church. If you send it to the church, please include a note that specifies it is for Jennifer Sanabria’s trip to Guatemala, October 21-28, 2014.

Jennifer Sanabria
656 Old Hwy 5 N
Thomasville, AL 36784

or

Thomasville Baptist Church
210 Wilson Ave.
Thomasville, AL 36784

P.S. If you are wondering where Jake will be during my trips, he will stay here in Thomasville with some friends. He is very active in the theater team (both in school and community) and he is also part of the sound/technical team at church, so he will be well occupied! 🙂

Worm, Take Heart

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Do not be afraid, O worm, Jacob…I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth. (Isaiah 41:14-15)

Could any two things be in greater contrast than a worm and a threshing tool with sharp teeth? A worm is delicate and is easily bruised by a stone or crushed beneath a passing wheel. Yet a threshing tool with sharp teeth can cut through rock and not be broken, leaving its mark upon the rock. and almighty God can convert one into the other. He can take and individual or a nation, who has all the weakness of a worm, and through the energizing work of His own Spirit, endow that person or nation with strength enough to make a profound mark upon the history of their time.

Therefore a “worm” may take heart. almighty God can make us stronger thank our circumstances and can turn each situation to our goo. in God’s strength we can make them all pay tribute to our soul. we can take the darkest disappointment, break it open, and discover a precious jewel of grace inside. when God gives us as an iron plowshare cuts through the hardest soil. As He said in the above verse, “I will make you…” Will He not do it? John Henry Jowett

Christ is building His kingdom with the broken things of earth. People desire only the strong, successful, victorious, and unbroken things in life to build their kingdom, but God is the God of the unsuccessful — the God of those who have failed. Heaven is being filled with earth’s broken lives, and there is no “bruised reed” (Isa. 42:3) that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious place of blessing and beauty. He can take a life crushed by pain and sorrow and make it a harp whose music will be a total praise. He can lift earth’s saddest failure up to heaven’s glory. J.R. Miller

“Follow Me, and I will make you…”
Make you speak My words with power,
Make you vessels of My mercy,
Make you helpful every hour.

“Follow Me, and I will make you…”
Make you what cannot be —
Make you loving, trustful, godly,
Make you even just like Me.

L.S.P.

– Streams in the Desert

Shelter from the Storm

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The storm raged. The rain poured. The thunder roared. The lightning filled the sky. Nevertheless, she had no trouble falling asleep; it was late and she needed rest. Not long after, the room seemed warm. She thought to adjust the thermostat or turn on the fan, but not even a warm spell could fully disturb her slumber. Despite the warm temperature, her body was comfortable and at peace. She removed the top comforter, rolled over, and nuzzled into her soft bed.

When she awoke the next morning, only a remnant of the prior night’s storm remained. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, a new day had begun. As she looked around her room, she noticed the clock was blinking 4:37; evidence that the storm was indeed bad enough to cause the electricity to go out and return while she slept. She immediately thought of the warm spell which had attempted to disrupt her rest. “That must’ve been why I was so warm”, she thought. She then heard a soft whisper, Though the raging storm scare and even cause you discomfort, rest in Me. I will hide you in my arms and the storms of this world will not disturb your slumber. She was taken aback by such words of comfort and security.

Once again her Heavenly Father had used a storm to bring her a message of assurance, joy, and above all peace. He reminded her how “He made the storm be still” (Psalm 107:29) and, if she would seek Him as her refuge, He would be her ever shelter from the storm.