Quietness

 

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

Sometimes we just need to be quiet and still before God. Draw near to Him and listen to what He has to say. Sometimes we are so focused on going here and there. Getting this done or that done. And we get so busy we don't take the time to stop and listen to what God is saying to us. So take some time to listen......"Be still and know that I AM God" Psalm 46:10

You of little faith

Yesterday my friend sent me a devotional on the same scripture I wrote about in my last post Matthew 8:26 "He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm."

This is what the devotional said "There may be times in your life when you feel swamped by all the troubles and disharmony in your life. We must remember that Jesus is there to calm our own stormy seas.
Prayer after the meditation: Yes, Jesus, there is a lot of anxiety, strife and anger at times in my life. Increase my faith and allow healing to make me whole in mind, body and spirit.
I guess God was listening to me. And I need to ask Him to increase my faith and to allow healing to come. This devotional was just what I needed to hear. Thanking God for this and my friend who sent it to me. 
I love it when God confirms something for me. 

Come Away with Me

O come to Me when you need rest

O come to Me with every burden on your chest

O come to Me when you feel like you’re going to fall and I will catch you when night calls

O come to Me when the road seems long and your faith is all gone

Rely on Me your strength and together we will go the length

Seasons come and go, but My hand is with you, just so you know

So there My child lay down and rest a while, because you have walked a great mile

It is why I have called you here, because your life is fast paced

and you need My strength to finish this race

These words came to me a few weeks ago while praying, it was just the first few lines at first. And this past weekend I was at retreat and I felt the Holy Spirit give more words to finish it. We had a project to do and we had to write a poem. So I started with the first few lines that I had written weeks ago and these other words just stated to come. At the end of the night we had to share all our projects with everyone. So I read this to everyone there. 

Sometimes God has to take you away with Him, away from the business of life so He can speak to you. That is what He did with me this weekend at the retreat. I just heard Him say to me "I want to sit down and talk to you for a while" and talk to me He did. 

A Love note from God

Today I received this love note from God. This was sent to me twice today from two different places. When I get something twice I always know it is God trying to speak to me. And this spoke to me. God wrote me a love note! And He made sure I got it twice so that I would really know!! I guess God is really letting me know that He does really see me (see my post below about feeling invisible.) Needed to hear this today.

God Sees

 

This past Thursday night I went to a women's conference at my husbands church. My husband is protestant and I am Catholic. So I go to both churches. Every year they have this women's conference called chick night. And it was a much needed chick night for me. I was with my two girl friends who have also helped me so much. Would not know what to do without them. The speakers that night was Priscilla Shiver and Lisa Bevere. Both of their messages spoke to me. But Priscilla's really spoke to me. It was like she was in my life and knew everything going on with me. She spoke from Luke 5:1-11 where Simon and the fisherman had been fishing all night and caught nothing and they were washing there nets. They were finished. They were done fishing! They had worked all night and caught nothing! That is how I have been feeling. There have been issues in my life where I have been telling the Lord  "I am done. No more. I have fished all night and nothing! I am washing my net and giving up." This is the point that I knew God was about to speak to me. I felt like Simon! She went on to say that you did not realize that things would be this hard. Things in our lives like marriages, finances, caring for a loved one, school, work etc....These things in our lives that can become overwhelming to us. That you did not know it was going to be this hard. And you feel like no one sees you. You feel no one sees your tears when you roll over in bed at night. Or maybe you feel you marriage is hanging on by a thread. Or no one sees how hard you work and you get nothing in return and you just want to give up. She then went on to say I am here to tell you that there is someone who does see. God sees. God sees your tears. Every tear has been caught in the palm of God's hand. You are seen by God. 

While Simon got out of the boat Jesus got in the boat to teach the people that were crowding around him. Simon getting out of the boat aloud Jesus the perfect place to teach the crowd around him. Sometimes God will allow us to catch nothing. That makes the perfect place for God to come into our lives and get in the boat, when you your tired and worn out. God noticed Simon was tired. If you have fished all night and your washing your net that is when God is about to get in your boat! God is about to show up. Simon was tired. So Simon got out of the boat and washed his net. She went on to say that it is okay to get out of the boat for a while. Sometimes we need to get out of the boat and wash our nets. 
When Jesus had finished speaking to the crowd around Him that is when He turned to Simon and said "Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch." Then Simon replied "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the net." And when they did that they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! Then they motioned for their partners to come over and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
And maybe they motioned for their partners instead of calling them over because they were speechless. They did not know what to say. They were stunned speechless at what Jesus had done. 
And maybe God is about to make you stunned speechless at what He is about to do!
 It is okay to get out of the boat for a while. It is okay to tell the Lord you are tired and that you have fished all night and caught nothing. But then you have to get back in the boat to do what God has called you to do. Start expecting the unexpected. God is about to bring a harvest. 
She used this scripture Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." God is in control. There is a morning coming. Your greatest mess will be your greatest message. 

Everything she preached on spoke to me much. There were also things in Lisa's message that spoke to me. She talked about the attacks on your life might be more to do with who you might be than who you have been. When you are anointed by God you are a target. There is something about you that is absolutely terrifying to the enemy. You have to be women who are skillful with the word of God. 

For a while now I have felt completely invisible. I have felt God has not seen certain things in my life. It is funny how God works. Last weekend I was at a day retreat weekend at my church. This is at the Catholic church I go to. At that retreat they played a video called "the invisible women" I loved this video so much.  And the lady speaking in the video mentions her friend who's name is Janice! So it really spoke to me. Then this weekend at the women's conference Priscilla was talking about the same thing! Feeling invisible. Feeling like God does not see your struggle. I guess God is telling me now that He sees! And  He sees you too in your struggle! Here is that video.....

I THIRST

It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it could be Me, I am there. I await even the smallest sign of your response, even the least whispered invitation that will allow Me to enter. And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do come – always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension – a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father ("As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you…" (Jn. 15:10) I come - longing to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and bind all your wounds. I bring you My light, to dispel your darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I might carry you and all your burdens; with My grace, to touch your heart and transform your life; and My peace I give to still your soul. I know you through and through. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you – even in your wanderings. I know every one of your problems. I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know all your sins. But I tell you again that I love you – not for what you have or haven’t done – I love you for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing in your life, and I will give you the strength to free yourself from sin and all its destructive power. I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. And I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the emptiness inside you with passing pleasures – with the even greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? "Come to Me all you who thirst…" (Jn. 7: 37). I will satisfy you and fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more than you can imagine – to the point of dying on a cross for you. I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you. I THIRST FOR YOU. I thirst to love you and to be loved by you – that is how precious you are to Me. I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials I THIRST FOR YOU. You must never doubt My mercy, My acceptance of you, My desire to forgive, My longing to bless you and live My life in you. I THIRST FOR YOU. If you feel unimportant in the eyes of the world, that matters not at all. For Me, there is no one any more important in the entire world than you. I THIRST FOR YOU. Open to Me, come to Me, thirst for Me, give me your life – and I will prove to you how important you are to My Heart. Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect plan to transform your life, beginning from this moment? Trust in Me. Ask Me every day to enter and take charge of your life. – and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this? Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to Me completely. I will do all the rest. Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, or bring the peace you seek. All that you have sought outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not cling to the things of this life. Above all, do not run from Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When you give Me your sins, you gave Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal; so come now, and unburden your soul. No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you every moment of the day – standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced for you. Have you not understood My cross? Then listen again to the words I spoke there – for they tell you clearly why I endured all this for you: "I THIRST…"(Jn 19: 28). Yes, I thirst for you – as the rest of the psalm – verse I was praying says of Me: "I looked for love, and I found none…" (Ps. 69: 20). All your life I have been looking for your love – I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before. Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit. "No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock. Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…" "Jesus is God, therefore His love, His Thirst, is infinite. He the creator of the universe, asked for the love of His creatures. He thirst for our love… These words: ‘I Thirst’ – Do they echo in our souls?” Mother Teresa 

My Life is but a weaving
Between my Lord and me,
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily....
The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

Night before last I was praying. I was writing my prayer's down in my prayer journal. Lately I have been having trouble finding words to praise God with. In my prayer journal it has tabs for praise, admit and confessing sins, your requests, thanksgiving, listening, messages, old and new testament scriptures that speak to you and a place for proverbs. It is a great prayer book. It keeps me on track.  Anyway, so the last few day I have been going to the Psalms for words to praise God with. And I try to find the words that really describe how I am feeling at the time. I have a copy of The Message Bible. I love how the message puts the scriptures. So night before last night my eyes fell upon Psalm 119:65-80.

65-72 Be good to your servant, God;
be as good as your Word.
Train me in good common sense;
I'm thoroughly committed to living your way.
Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place,
but now I'm in step with your Word.
You are good, and the source of good;
train me in your goodness.
The godless spread lies about me,
but I focus my attention on what you are saying;
They're bland as a bucket of lard,
while I dance to the tune of your revelation.
My troubles turned out all for the best—
they forced me to learn from your textbook.
Truth from your mouth means more to me
than striking it rich in a gold mine.
73-80 With your very own hands you formed me;

now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.

When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,

those who fear you will take heart and be glad.

I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;

your testing has taught me what's true and right.

Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!

just the way you promised.
Now comfort me so I can live, really live;
your revelation is the tune I dance to.
Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;
they tried to sell me a bill of goods,
but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.
Let those who fear you turn to me
for evidence of your wise guidance.
And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,
so I can always walk with my head held high.

What it said really spoke to me. And yesterday I was reading my Magnificat. When I came to the reading in Psalms it was the same Psalm I had prayed the night before. In the Magnificat the reading was Psalm 119:67,68,71,72,75,76.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise.
68 You are good and bountiful; teach me your statutes.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
75 I know, O Lord, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to you servants.

I had to read it again to make sure I was reading this correctly. I could not believe I was reading the same thing I had prayed the night before. God is so good. What I thought was my own thoughts was actually the Holy Spirit guiding me to this scripture. God knew that this would be my devotional reading the next day. And He wanted to speak somthing to me. It spoke volumes to me. It spoke to me because I have been though so much with my back injury in 2005, my recent heart procedure, my foot surgery, and I have dealt with migraines for about 12 years. All these afflictions have caused me to seek God. After the back injury is when I really started seeking after God. Had it not been for all these afflictions I am not sure I would have sought after God the way I have the past five years. So I know God is trying to tell me something with these scriptures. God simply amazes me. And I love Him so much. He amazes me with how much He loves me. And how much He desires a relationship with me. God knows our hearts and He knows what we pray. He knows everything about us. He knows us better than we know ourselves.