The Odd Puzzle

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

At one time in my life, I enjoyed putting puzzles together. Sitting for hours at the kitchen table, I would stare at all of the pieces, try to figure out where they belonged and how in the world all these little pieces would end up looking like the picture on the box.

Eventually, with patience, time and perseverance one piece would connect with one piece and two pieces would connect with two pieces and finally the picture on the table would match the picture on the box.

That is the same way God works in our lives. He already knows the end. He fashioned us in our mother’s womb. We just have to have faith to endure the process on allowing His will to be revealed to us one piece at a time. Sometimes it is a word, a song, a person or situation each coming together for His purpose for us.

When we are in the middle of the process like a puzzle, it is sometimes difficult to see how all the pieces will fit together because it takes too long. We don’t see how the different shape and sizes of pieces belongs to this puzzle. At that point instead of submitting to God’s will piece by piece, we sometimes resort to self will, forcing the pieces in places where they don’t belong. We become frustrated and then quit instead of relying on God’s will.

Thank You Father for an odd puzzle to teach me how to wait on your will, all the pieces are working together for the purpose you have for us.

© 2011 Wanda Currie

A Gentle Whisper

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper . . . then a voice said . . . “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(I Kings 19:11-12,13c NIV)

God was not in the destructive power of betrayal that tore apart and shattered my marriage. God was not in the earthquake of the divorce that split open a 34-year covenant. And He was not in the fire that burned away my identity as a wife. In the aftermath of the wind, earthquake and fire that changed my life forever, I cried out to God.

In the cacophony of my endless weeping and self-pity, I was unable to hear God’s voice. In the pain of my broken heart, I could not hear God. In the searing sorrow of abandonment, I clung to the past and refused to listen to Him. I was obsessed with a former husband who no longer loved me.

After the noise subsided, I grew quiet before the Lord. He spoke to me in a gentle whisper, “What are you doing here, Diane? You are free now to become the woman I created you to be. Now, go and live your new life.”

Thank you, Father, for waiting patiently for me to listen to your gentle whisper. Please strengthen me to let go of the past and guide me toward to a new future. . In Jesus Name, Amen

© 2011 Diane E. Hussey

Pink Hope

"And now Lord for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Psalm 39:7 NAS  

There is a pink pen in my Bible decorated with ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness. It has the words; hope, courage, strength, inspiration and cure. The message is clear to those diagnosed and struggling with surviving breast cancer: hang in there; don't give up; be courageous and strong; live life renewed. There is hope—hope for a cure.

Those words so carefully chosen for those in desperate need of hope also describe Jesus. He is the ultimate hope and cure for all our ills, be they emotional, spiritual, or physical. We have hope in all things on this earth and in Heaven through Jesus our Redeemer. We can have courage to face each day without fear when we know Jesus as Savior. He becomes  our strength. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 

If there is any cure, any healing, it will ultimately come through His hands; whether it is miraculous thus defying explanation, aided by the skill of surgeons, or by the knowledge of researchers studying DNA and developing chemotherapy.. There is nothing out of the realm of His care and providence. His hand is in it and on it—all of the time.

He is our inspiration. He fills us with desire to know more of Him. We are inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit when we meditate on His word and seek Him in prayer. He fills us to overflowing. He gives strength to the weak, hope to the hopeless, and courage to the fearful.

Precious loving Father, please fill the hearts of the desperate with the hope of You. Amen.

(c) 2011 Bonnie Mae Evans

Crickets and Salvation

… no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2: 9-10 (NIV)

Walking out the door of my house preparing to water my garden, I noticed a cricket on its back wiggling in place, apparently struggling to right itself. It is my understanding that insects are unable to survive if they remain upside down. Having nothing against crickets unless they are in my home, I attempted to assist in the salvation of this creature by turning it over with my toe. The wiggling body moved about three inches, but my purpose was not achieved. The insect’s movements became more vigorous. Trying again only pushed Mr. Cricket's entire body partially under a hose reel, where, out of my reach and apparently still upside down, his movements became more violent. However, tipping the hose reel over, I found a happily saved cricket.

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As I walked away, the Holy Spirit brought a thought to my mind. There is a person who has been the subject of my prayers and frequent testimony for over thirty years. She has not yet received the Lord Jesus as her Savior. She is well aware of where I stand and “wiggles violently” when too much “God talk” makes its way into our time together. Recently she called me seeking answers to questions she had heard elsewhere.

The door was open for a deep conversation about salvation. My prayer is that she is “under the hose reel” and God is finishing the job.

Dear Lord, reveal yourself to this person and allow the Holy Spirit to woo her into acceptance of your redeeming grace.

Christy Struben © 2011