What you see

1 Corinthians 4:5  “Therefore judge nothing before the time…”

Yesterday I read an account–For five successive years grasshoppers descended on a farming area, destroying all crops. Feeling desperate, and near starvation, many turned to GOD and prayed.  After they prayed, the weather warmed up and the eggs started to come to life.  The very thing they feared had happened once again.  Hadn’t they prayed?  Why didn’t GOD answer their prayers?

Then four days later the temperature dropped to freezing which killed the larvae and saved the crops.  Wow! HIS ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

That story reminding me of 1993 when as part of the 10/40 window incentive to pray on site with insight for the most gospel resistant area of the world, a group of us flew to Albania.  We went to pray blessings and awakening for this country.  It had been placed under harsh communist rule after World War 2 and for 50 years had been in isolation from the rest of the world.

You see when Hoffa was given power all the borders were closed off and none were allowed in or out of the country.  The communists gathered all the Christians and placed them alive in oil barrels and rolled them out into the sea.  All Albanians lost their homes and lands and were forcibly moved to the cities placed in concrete block apartments buildings.  They were not allowed to make any decisions for themselves.

So, when we arrived soon after Albania was liberated, the missionaries told us (and we saw evidence of) that the people of the present generation had no sense of ownership (for they never had owned anything) nor could they make decisions because they had not ever been given choices.

We spent days walking the streets and praying, we went to a hospital and prayed and climbed to high places and prayed blessings over Albania and its people.  Then we went home.  It wasn’t long before the news blared that Albania was in absolute anarchy and even children had rifles.  We were horrified and prayed for them, but for some of us really struggled. 

Hadn’t we prayed?  Why hadn’t GOD heard?

Then finally things calmed down in Albania and the missionaries were allowed back into Albania and reports filtered back home to us.  The Albanians in the church, now were making the decisions and the missionaries found themselves there only in an advisory role.

GOD had used all the bad to answer our prayers for the good of the Albanian people for through it HE taught the people how to think for themselves and how to listen to HIM.  HE use it to grow up the Albanians fast.

Have you prayed then the opposite seems to happen?  Wait I say on the LORD for HE is at work achieving for you (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).

Hugs

Sharon

So much more

I know someone who is wanting a new beginning, but he is so nervous, afraid that he is not strong enough to leave the past behind and beginning anew.

 

Thinking about starting over can seem completely overwhelming, until we look to JESUS and remember nothing is impossible with GOD. The very same power that raised JESUS from the dead is at work within us (Ephesians 1:19-20). We forget sometimes that the HOLY SPIRIT is within us (Romans 8:11) working in us and on our behalf. HE is able to do exceedingly abundantly more (the NIV says ‘infinitely more’) than what we can ask, think or even imagine. With HIM leading and strengthening we can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens us. But the key to it all is looking to HIM and asking for HIS help. So, let’s just praise HIS name, sing HIS name, and call upon HIS name.

 

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon

GOD listens to the cries of our hearts.

As I read in the Psalms this morning I came across these words:

So foolish was I and ignorant: I was as a beast before THEE.  Nevertheless, I am continually with THEE: YOU hold me by my right hand.  YOU will guide me with YOUR counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but YOU? And there is none upon the earth that I desire besides THEE, Psalm 73:22-25

As I read memories tumbled into my mind, memories so vividly clear it was a time my children were very young. The kids were in bed, my husband gone (for he worked construction out of state) and I lay on my bed and was reading my Bible when I came on those words.  They caught me, and I read through them again.

Then I confessed to GOD, “LORD, they are not true for me, YOU know that.  But, I want them to be.”

I couldn’t tell you how much time had passed when one day while reading again in Psalms I read those words and amazed to realized that they were true for me.  Silently, behind the scenes GOD had done a work and answered my heart’s cry when I wasn’t even aware.

GOD is absolutely amazing!  GOD listens to the cries of our hearts.

Are those words true for you?  Hope so, it brings such peace and direction.

Looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2)

Hugs

Sharon