Has God spoken to you? Has God revealed Himself to you through His Word, in prayer, a sermon, a friend, or a moment of being quiet before Him?  What has He told you?  When He spoke did you immediately walk into the light of His revelation? Or did a season of darkness sweep into your life?

I’ve found in my life when God speaks there is often a time of darkness that follows… A time of testing and trial… A season of waiting.

When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 19).

How do you handle those dark moments when silence is all your hear?  Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). 

“Be still and know I am God.” Psalm 46:10.

What do you do when your dreams aren’t turning out the way you expected?  Do you give up? Do you ignore your dream(s)? Do you continue waiting like the Israelites did whining and complaining? Or maybe you are like me and go through seasons of depression, times of complaining, moments of bitterness, and times of intense growth in Scripture and prayer.  I’ve experienced all of it.  I wish I could say I have been more spiritual than the rest of my list.

Maybe you are a lot like me and you have experienced the highs and lows of waiting.  The one thing I am so glad I can say is that I haven’t given up.  I haven’t quit pressing on and looking to God for strength and wisdom. Despite my resolve to finish this race strong, I have gone through moments of whining and complaining the past several years.  I told one friend recently that it is time for a change… just to hear him say, “That’s what your baby will be crying for after she is born. (Due in September).

Waiting is an interesting activity.  There are times of waiting and being still before the Lord.  And at the other extreme there are those times where it is necessary to break down some walls and get busy… put your hands to the plow and work.  During this season of waiting I’ve done a little of both.  But each time I begin to get busy I keep hearing this voice say, “This isn’t it.”  I heard those all familiar words at the first of this year. It was once again very frustrating for me.  What did I do?  I obeyed what I believed the Holy Spirit was telling me to do.  I totally backed off and stopped volunteering what I was doing at a particular church.

I haven’t arrived at where I desire and believe I will be one day…  I have a lot of hopes and dreams…  But I do believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I’m taking in everything I can as I continue to wait and seek the Lord. 

The following message by Brian Bloye, “When Life Makes You Wait.”  Has been one of those moments where God has affirmed His presence in my life.  This message really inspired me.  I hope it will you too.

My number one desire in life is to please God with all that I am.  I have a passion for people and a desire for others to come to know Jesus.  In my pursuit to know Him more I’ve moved from state to state serving Him… always willing to do whatever I thought God was leading me to do. 

The subtitle for Pete Wilson’s book Plan B, “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would?”  is a question I have contemplated and thought about so many times over the past five years. 

I never dreamed I would be where I am today.  The heartbreak, brokenness, and shattered dreams have all left me with more questions than answers.  Many times I have sat back and asked God, “Where are You?”  Plan B has helped me begin to really dive into those places of my life where I still hurt and question God.

Pete Wilson tackles this question “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would?” in Plan B.  He dives into the lives of many we find in the Bible as well as people living today dealing with issues that we all face at some time or another in our lives.

Plan B living may be the story of your life right now.  If so, take the time to understand who you are in Christ and let these encouraging and challenging words by Pete Wilson begin to help you on your journey.

I think there is a question that can lead us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God… if we have the guts to ask it. 

The question is this: What would you do if you were absolutley confident God was with you? (Plan B – 67).

One thing God continues to show me is that this life is not about me.  It is all about Him.  Just because we are faithful to do what He leads us to do doesn’t guarantee success… at least the way most of us would define it.

Just because God calls you to some venture, that doesn’t guarantee the venture will succed.  Just because life doesn’t turn out the way you thought, that doesn’t mean you missed God’s will. (Plan B – 79).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I’m working on a series of posts based off of a song by Peter Gabriel. The title of the song is somewhere inside this post. Until I complete it I will continue to repost some of my previous writings.

This is from March 13, 2009:
**********

I’m in the midst of a project with the company I work for. It’s called a “Kaizen Event.” Kaizen = incremental changes for the better. So far, our meeting has transpired over five days. (With several more weeks to go). After a week of this my brain is fried! This event has really challenged my thinking about the processes that we were asked to evaluate and to bring about change.

During my drive time home each day I have debriefed the days discussions, this process, and my own life in the light of this process. Before going to bed each night I have been reading Erwin McManus’ book Wide Awake. I have been in Chapter 3, Adapt,all week long. The focus of this chapter has been on change or as McManus writes, “reinventing yourself” by the power of the Holy Spirit. See 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 12:1-2.

What is it about change that you like or dislike?

At work we are wanting to take something that is a good thing and make it better by walking through this process. As I look at my own life and evaluate it – I want to bring my good life to the foot of the Cross and give it to my Lord and say, “Jesus, bring about the incremental changes in my life for the better so that I may be pleasing in your eyes.” In this chapter McManus challenges,

“If you’re not living the life of your dreams, if you wake up with that little bit of sadness in the mornings because you know you’re underachieving, living a life of mediority, and chooosing average, it’s easy to blame everyone else for your condition. Especially when your condition is really good, but not the dream God has for you. You’re not called to settle for the good life; you are called to a life of greatness.” (Wide Awake, 67).

What is it that you must do to bring your life from good to great? Living the dream is to live a life of greatness. It’s a humbling invitation given by God to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can live, test, and approve what His perfect will is for your life.

Are you living the dream?

This is a repost from January 31, 2009
—————

Did you know that you can’t have an encounter with God and walk away the same? When you have an encounter with God your life is going to change. Moses spent 40 days on the mountain with God his face radiated with the glory of God. When you spend time with the LORD people are going to know it.

I called a friend a couple of weeks ago and when he heard my voice he said, “I must have made an impression on you back in college.” I asked, “Why are you saying that?” He replied, “Those you leave an impression on will always remember you.”

What sort of impression do you leave on others?

“You were not created to be normal. God’s desire for you is not compliance and conformity. You have been baptized by Spirit and fire. Asleep within you is a barbarian a savage to all who love the prim and proper. You must go to the primal place and enter the presence of the Most High God, for there you will be changed by His presence. Let Him unleash the untamed faith within you.” (Erwin McManus, The Barbarian Way, 82).

There is a calling that comes from the Father. Each person is called and those who choose to follow Jesus have a mission to accomplish with the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Obedience to Jesus – his call is all that matters… Not what others may say.

In the later chapters of Acts Paul is repeatedly told by other Christians not to go to Jerusalem. Paul’s response,

“What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.” (Acts 20:24, The Message).

What is it you are destined to finish in Jesus Name? Work at it with all your heart. Give God your best effort – the Holy Spirit will empower you and others will hear His message.

Has something or someone hindered your efforts? Has that circumstance told you, “You can’t do that.”? Give to Jesus whatever or whomever has stepped into your life to disqualify you.

Make these words of Paul your words, “What matters most to me is to finish what God started…”

While reading in Mark this morning I recalled this post from July 4, 2008. I hope you enjoy this repost:
*****************

… when it comes to prayer.

According to Dictionary.com, to shilly-shally is:

1. to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.
2. to waste time; dawdle.

Over the course of the last month I have taken my time getting through the book of Mark. This morning I have completed that journey. I know I will return to travel through the words found on these pages in the days ahead. As I read this morning, I focused on the various times praying came up.

Just after Jesus walked up to a fig tree and cursed it Jesus responds to Peter’s remark at the now shriveled up tree:

Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’ – no shuffling or shilly-shallying – and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive – only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.” (Mark 11:22-25, The Message).

I guess the most striking moment for me was Peter, James, and John falling asleep as Jesus was agonizing in the garden. Jesus comes to them and addresses Peter:

Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don’t be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire. (Mark 14:37-38, The Message).

My take away here is this:

Stay alert
Do not hesitate to pray
Pray with faith – believing
Pray about everything (there is nothing too small and it’s all important to God)
Prayer is not all about asking
Prayer is getting things right with others and forgiveness of sins.

The need to pray about everything is very important. To act without praying would be to take that “one thing” into your own hands… as if to live in ones own power.

For me, the need to stay alert is crucial. By living life alert in prayer allows the spirit man to be ready for anything. As I’ve thought about this, I’ve considered the many times I have gone to the Lord in prayer with anxious – worried thoughts. The day in and day out moments caught up in worry. It would be real easy for Jesus to approach me as he did Peter and question, “Roye, you went to sleep on me? Stay alert!”

James compares those who “worry their prayers” to the waves of the sea. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believing, without a second thought.” (James 1:5-6a, The Message).

Oswald Chambers in today’s (July 4) Utmost speaks up on this subject as well,

Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” ( Psalm 91:1 ). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.

“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.” (Numbers 9:22).

The people of Israel were led by God with a cloud by day and fire by night. They followed as the Lord led them. It wasn’t without a lot of complaining either. As I read through Numbers, I’m convicted of my own sin of complaining to the Lord and the frustration I have been causing those close to me.

A friend recently told me I needed to do what God has called me to. If I don’t those close to me will suffer from my not being obedient. I’m beginning to see what he was telling me six months ago.

I was visiting a young adult worship service back in the fall. It was an awesome time of worship and teaching. The message was on how to deal with depression. There were 10 points on the outline. Then Dave said, “Number 11, Do what the Lord is telling you to do.”

Have you ever been in a fog so thick you couldn’t drive? Life seems a bit like that right now for me. Sit tight until the fog lifts… And I complain, get angry, and make everyone else miserable.

After I read Numbers 9:22 tonight I began to think that maybe the cloud is not so bad afterall. Maybe life seems cloudy right now because Im not ready to move on. Whatever the reason for this season I embrace it and ask God to forgive me of my complaining.

“The call of God only becomes clear to us as we obey, never as we weigh the pros and cons and try to reason it out… When we hear the call of God it is not for us to dispute with God and arrange to obey him if he will expound the meaning of his call to us.” (Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible, “The Call of God”).

Does your life have what Oswald Chambers calls, “sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is satisfying to Jesus.”?

How does someone’s life bring about that kind of pleasure to Jesus? Chambers would say it is found in, “…continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God…”

I’m reading about that kind of faith lived out in the lives if so many found in the book of Genesis. Abraham and Sarah’s lives were a continual “‘go out’ in dependence on God.” I believe there are many people living today with broken dreams because they have chosen not to “go out.”

What keeps us from living in the potential of what God created us for? Why is it that some seem to serve the Lord with reckless abandon? While others shrink back in fear.

Fear is a gripping emotion that takes us into “watch out for myself” thinking. How often do we read in Scripture about someone being spoken to by an angel of the Lord and hear, “Do not be afraid…” Once we lock ourselves in on fear we will not hear anything else. We will not move… we will not walk in faith.

On New Years Eve I was playing a game with my son. He was sitting on the sofa and said, “Daddy when I grow up I want to be just like you.” I’ve thought about those words a lot since then. I’ve thought about our relationship and my desire for him to grow up knowing, loving, and serving Jesus.

I’ve realized these past couple of days that my desire for him is much like the desire Jesus has for me. To live and walk by faith… To “‘go out’ in dependence on God.”

Today as I look to my Heavenly Father I echo the words of my son to Him, “Daddy when I grow up I want to be just like You.”

2010 is here!!

It’s kind of weird saying it. I think this is one of the first years I’ve spent time actually listing out things I want to accomplish. I’ve done New Years Resolutions before… But for the start of this year I spent the past week praying, writing, and thinking about 2010.

What excites you the most about the New Year?

I like the idea of a new beginning. 2009 was a tough year in many ways. I’m praying and hoping this year will see a much brighter future.

How are you kicking off 2010?

I have begun reading through the Bible. The first plan I’m going to do this year is a 90 Day plan. You can find this plan at You Version

I’m praying for a great year and looking forward to talking about it here in 2010.

“My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest – my best for His glory.”