The Way

So, life has been a little uncertain lately...to say the least. This was my last week of working, for possibly a couple of months, so we've been a bit worried about our finances. We have been in the hole anyway since I left my other job back in August. So, finances... BAD.

I guess I could get discouraged. I could worry and stress over the uncertainty that we are facing. I could doubt my calling....tried that a few times....but God just won't let me! He keeps giving me affirmation and encouragement. He puts people and conversations in my life that just reiterates what He has already put in my heart. He amazes me.

I was praying yesterday and thinking about the feeling of hopelessness that so many face. I have felt that hopelessness, and depression too at times. It seems like you're lost and you can't find a way out. Like every decision you have made in life was the wrong one. You come to a point where you can't see life getting better. You can't see yourself without the weight of your worries. You don't even want to try anymore. You want someone to tell you what to do...which way to go....Jesus is the way. He is truth. He is life.

John 14:1-6
KJV

¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
 ²In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
 ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
 ⁴And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
 ⁵Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
 ⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

He came not only to save us, though that would have been enough, but also to give us a full life. People seek after money, fame, and everything else the world has to offer. But what they really desire, that emptiness they try all their life to fill, is love. God's love.
John 10:9-11

Worldwide English (New Testament)

Jesus speaking:

⁹I am the door. Anyone who comes in through me will be saved. He will go in and out as he wants to, and will have food to eat.
 ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal the sheep and to kill them and spoil them. I have come so that people may live and that they may enjoy life to the full.
 ¹¹`I am the good shepherd. I am the one who really cares for the sheep. The good shepherd is willing to die to save his sheep.


Now, I'm not saying that following Him is always going to be easy. I know I screw up a lot of times. I hate that I fail Him. But it's not about me and my short comings. It's about Him and the love that He has put in our hearts. He loves us...even when we're hopelessly lost.

Romans 5:6-8
NLT

⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.


If you are hurting, He wants to comfort you. If you need direction, he wants to guide you through. He has a plan for your life. He has a purpose for you. Call on Him, He will be faithful to answer you and show you great things that you didn't know.

*If you need prayer, I will pray for you. If you need a bible, I will send you one. gh_fleming@yahoo.com

A Leader and a Servant

I love my boys. As I listened to them argue, and play, and argue some more, I was thinking about how different their personalities are. I believe God used that tonight to make a point...

Austin is my leader. He is SO confident and strong willed. We have a bit harder of a time with him because he doesn't ever just accept a thought or rule. He wants to know WHY. Though this can be annoying at times, I am thankful that he wants to view all the facts before he decides to believe or do something. He doesn't just take your word for it, in fact, it seems you are automatically wrong until you prove yourself right.

I love his passion. When he has an interest in a subject he will research and learn as much about it as he can. Even if he is mocked by his friends for his interests, he stays committed. He has told me on occasion that he gets made fun of sometimes at school for being a christian....*note- he is NOT a quiet christian. He takes it in stride and says while he doesn't like it, he believes they are not just mocking him, but God as well. He strives to lead by example, especially when it comes to his faith. Recently we had an incident where one of his teachers accused him of lying in class when he said his throat was sore. He came home steaming. After a loooong conversation he admitted that he was most upset because he tries so hard to be a good witness for his faith and he felt this undermined all his efforts.....is that a 'works' message there? hmm...

He is my little defender. He has made it a point at school to befriend those that don't 'fit in' and doesn't hesitate to come to their aid if one is being picked on. He stands up for the underdog and is committed to help them as much as he can.

Xander is my joyful servant. He loves everybody...really. He has the most sincere heart I have every seen. When you're happy, he's happy. When your sad or hurting, he's sad too. His favorite song is thief by Third Day. The first time he heard the song, however, we were in the car. I had to stop the car and console him. Recently at church he began to cry as the singers sang Amazing Grace. He has such a tender heart.

He desires to be good and strives to be helpful. He is obedient and seems to flourish in structured environments. He considers everyone his friend. He has so much love in that little heart of his. His prayers at night consists of him asking God to 'make the whole earth good' and pleading the blood of Jesus over 'all the people'. Though his understanding of God isn't as deep as Austin's was at his age, he believes. Oh, how he believes!

As a child with asthma he has been sick quite frequently in his short life. He has recently began asking God to heal him. He thanks God when he feels he has healed him, but never doubts when he doesn't see a change. He just asks again...and again. He has faith. True, pure faith.

OK, I may have gotten a bit carried away. The point is, the leader isn't really better than the servant, or vica versa. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have talents and gifts. It doesn't matter as much what your gift is, but rather how you use that gift to glorify God. What good would knowledge of His word do me if my heart was hard as stone. And how could I witness to others the greatness of His love if I had no knowledge of His word. He is what makes our gifts great! No matter what your call in life, use it to glorify and honor the One would put it there...

Praises

Oh, how great it is to know Him! What a blessing it is just to think of His love for us! How can I do anything, but praise His name. He is the Lover of my soul. The Calm in my storm. The Mercy in my corrupted heart. He is the Restorer of my hope.

I can do all things through Him, yet nothing without Him. How humbling it is to know that His face shines upon me, that I am called by the Most High. He has a will and a purpose for my life that would overshadow anything I could accomplish for myself. In Him, there is joy unspeakable. In Him, there is a fullness that once was empty. There beats a heart that once was silent.

Through all things His praises will be in my heart, for He put them there. He knew me from the foundations of the earth and He loved me when I was unlovable. He didn't ask me to conform to the LAW to win His love. Instead, He sought after me. He showered me with His love until I couldn't resist Him any longer. He filled me with His spirit and caused His desires to become my own. My hopes and my dreams are woven together with my faith and love for Him. My heart's sole desire is to be a good and faithful servant to the One who's faithfullness to me far out shines any faith I had in Him. How great is our God <3