As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -- Isaiah 55:10-11

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Book Review: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis

o   

I am
not into Amish stories. I am not keen on vampires, BUT Forsaken by Leanna Ellis is one of the best books I've read. Full of truth. Powerful in its revelation of how easily death overcomes when life is absent...and the only antidote...how easily it can be missed...and found.

F
orsaken is a story of good versus evil, choices made, forgiveness given (to self and others), and life embraced. It isn't an Amish story or a vampire story. It is MY story...your story...and the story I choose to write by my own actions...and the faith it takes to trust God to somehow make the story beautiful...even when I feel Forsaken.



Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Difference

Lots of people can tell you the problems in the world.

What makes the difference is people who choose to find and be a solution.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Start with Me

I keep hearing people say to pray for rain. According to Deuteronomy 23 the reason for drought in any area of life is sin.

So we pray for for God to forgive our nation.

But look at the verse people keep quoting:

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It does not say "nation" or "country". It says "people". It is personal.

Seems to me if we want to see our land healed and abundance and prosperity restored we need to ask God to show us our personal sins, ask forgiveness for them, and truly "turn from their wicked ways".

It is easy for me to look in the mirror and think I'm not so bad, certainly not wicked, but it doesn't matter how I see me. It matters who God sees me, so when I go before Him to ask for forgiveness, first I ask Him what He sees, what He wants to change, what He desires to purify. Then I pray in agreement with Him, that what I am doing is sinful to HIM, that His heart is to forgive, and that He desires to purify me for His sake...and mine.

So I'm praying for rain in every area of my life, and I am praying for God to heal my city, my state, and my country. And I'm asking Him to start with me.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Exactly

"I had a wondrously beautiful moment yesterday
when I realized things were never going to be
what I had wanted them to be...
but I wanted them to be what they had become."
~From my journal, August 2, 2011~