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Wherever God guides, He provides.
We often read that statement and think immediately of the material provisions God gives, and praise God for those gifts! But God’s provisions for us as we follow Him are multiplied and varied to meet every need – physical, spiritual, and emotional. Let me tell you how I saw Him provide all that for us in Week Two at The Wilds.
Continue reading “God’s Gifts To Us This Summer”Today’s Refresh Her podcast discusses this subject in greater detail with a biblical example of these truths. I hope you’ll listen and be encouraged!
The needs and burdens of someone I love have been on my heart and in my thoughts. I’ve told this dear one that I’m praying for them and thinking of them as a way to encourage their overwhelmed heart. But you know what? As much as I love this dear one, I have failed.
Continue reading “God is Thinking About You!”This month has been very full and very busy. It’s easy at times like this to get focused on all the happenings, on my fatigue, or the hardships, and overlook all the wonders of my God. When I stopped to consider what He has done, I came up with quite a list!
With the splendor of fall’s colors at every turn, I’ve certainly seen His beauty, His Creative hand, and His majesty!
I’ve also seen God’s providence. After being with my parents for seven days, I came home and my heart wanted to stay there. But in God’s providence, He had my husband scheduled to speak at the Senior Adult Conference at The Wilds of North Carolina. More than wanting to be home, I wanted to be there to support Dale in the ministry that God has called him to. So, we happily packed our bags and headed south on Tuesday. God knew exactly what I really needed. If you’ve ever had the blessing of attending camp at The Wilds, you know what refreshment it brings to your heart and life. When we arrived, we had already been “Ooo-ing” and “Ahhh-ing” over the fall colors, but the campsite was breathtaking.
Before the first meal, we were invited to take a selfie at this cute display.
One of my husband’s ways to engage in sharing the Gospel when we’re at a restaurant is to ask the waitress how we can pray for her as we thank the Lord for our meal. It is always so interesting to hear how people answer that question. So many say something like,
“Everything’s good right now. I really don’t need anything!”
To them, God is like a genie in a bottle, waiting to grant their whims and wishes, or to fix the current financial or physical crisis in their life. Those issues are often God’s way of drawing us to Him. We realize how desperate we are without Him when a crisis comes. I recently came across a verse about prayer that reminded me that, as our heavenly Father, He loves to answer our longings when those longings are from a righteous heart (a heart right with Him) – not merely a heart that wants some thing.
Proverbs 10:24b
The desire of the righteous shall be granted.
As we walk with Him, and allow him to direct our desires (Ps 37), our longings will be things that please Him, and that He delights in answering because He is a loving Father!
Psalm 73:25, 26
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
The happiness of the righteous will never end. Our God will never disappoint us or let us down. He always wins. Because He wins, we win. Don’t be downhearted.
If Christ’s desires are your desires He will grant them.
Wait.
The answer is first in coming to know Him. Don’t look at Him as a god who grants wishes. See Him as your heavenly Father who delights in You as you delight in Him!
We never know what a day holds. My days have been very full of helping to care for my father who has been hospitalized for over a week now. I’ve made the trip to central Kentucky to assist my family as we rotate staying with him. When vision and hearing are so minimal, it’s crucial to have someone there to be your ears and eyes.
We’ve watched the Lord strengthen him and though there’s been a bit of a set back today due to a sleeping medication that really put him out, we are hopeful that he will awaken soon and continue to progress.
These are days when my theology is put into practice. What I know to be true about my God is what stabilizes me, strengthens my heart, and gives me hope for whatever the future holds.
One truth I’ve cling to is that God is sovereign. He is ruling over my limited ability to help or to know what to do. He is ruling over my finiteness and He is here even when I cannot be present. I can trust my God to work out His will in my life, and the life of my father.
I’ve also had to remind myself to only think about TODAY. That is Philippians 4:8 thinking. The past cannot be changed and the future is uncertain, but there is grace for today.
If you are in uncertain times and situations, remind yourself truth about the character of God. You can trust an almighty, sovereign, loving God with your life.
I’ll be back here when time allows. I’m needed here and happy to do so. It’s a blessing to honor my parents and care for them.
Refreshed by His character,
RefreshHer 