"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:18
When we believe lies about who God is, there is always a consequence.
And a long time ago, there was a girl who agreed with the lie that she was alone. That her Father, who was supposed to be with her always, had somehow wandered away at a critical time. She needed Him, and she prayed and prayed for Him to come and step in. She pleaded with Him to save her from darkness- and He didn't. The enemy seemed so powerful, and so present. Her Savior seemed to be absent...
And she believed that she was alone and that she had to fend for herself.
She let that lie settle and find its home in her heart. She tucked it away and covered it up with life.
And as she grew older, she didn't really understand that she carried that lie, that orphan heart around with her.
But she believed, deep down, that although she loved and trusted God, when it came down to it, she had to make things happen when He didn't.
She ended up with children of her own.
She loved them and treasured them.
And her heart pricked her as she called God her Father- and yet felt the difference in her beliefs that didn't line up with the fierce, fighting love she felt for her children.
As she taught her children to trust her, she felt her lack of trust in Him.
She heard herself speaking to her children,
"You just have to trust me. You have to believe that I know what is best. It might not always feel like I am on your side, but I am. I see the big picture when you don't. Just trust me."
And she knew that she was teaching something that she wasn't truly believing...
She was then given a child who was truly an orphan. A broken little boy who also believed that he was alone and abandoned. He too believed that he had to fend for himself.
And she jumped right in and expected to love away his broken, orphan heart.
She expected to fill the hole his first parents had left.
She expected to lead him into the perfect Father's love.
And as one year led to two and then three, she saw that she was powerless to heal his heart. That the hurting little boy was going to fend for himself and do what he thought best no matter what she did. No matter how many times she told him and showed him he could trust her.
So she prayed and prayed for him. She sought the true Father for healing.
And then- in His goodness and kindness and mercy, in His faithfulness and his graciousness- He spoke to her.
"You can't lead someone somewhere you haven't been...."
And she knew it was true........and it was time.
As she lay awake in bed one night, she opened that hidden place up to Him. She gave it to Him in all of it's ugliness.
And the ugliness didn't surprise Him or repulse Him like she thought it would- He already knew that it was there. It was never hidden from Him.
"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
He asked her to ask Him for the truth of where He was at that time when she thought she was alone and forsaken.
And she was terrified to ask.
But she did.
And the picture He gave her blew her mind and blew through her heart and has left her forever changed.
Her Jesus was there.
Not only with her, but with His body wrapped around hers in fierce protection.
The saw very essence and origin of that fighting love that she felt for her own children.
And you can tell her that she's a little crazy. :) You can tell her that He doesn't work or speak that way. And she will tell you this-
I have seen it for myself.
"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church both now and forever..."
And now that broken little boy and I, we still have our struggles.
But there is a confidence in Jesus' fighting love and care for us both that changes things.
It changes helplessness to hopefulness.
It changes doubt to belief.
And we have so much farther to go, and so much more to learn, but I know Jesus holds it all in His hands.
And He will continue to show us the way as we grow in our understanding of Who He is and grow in our trust in His care and in His unfailing love....
"When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory."
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
I stopped by my kids' school today to drop something off, and as I was leaving, I noticed that the first graders were all lined up and ready to test out the paper airplanes they had made.
I stopped to watch.
On the count of "three" they released the airplanes......and Tekoa's plane didn't fly. It flopped down at her feet.
Her shoulders slumped and she had that "I'm about to fall to pieces" look on her face.
And the mommy in me couldn't hold back.
I walked over to her and scooped her up in my arms. I carried her to a chair, we sat, and she melted. Sobbing.
The teacher's aide came over and whispered, "she's had a rough day."
Which pulled at me even more.
We sat like that until the students were called back to the classroom.
I carried her into her classroom and sat down at her desk- with her body still wrapped around mine.
Her teacher told the students to get out their handwriting pages and to get to work on them.
When I heard "handwriting" my heart pulled yet again, as I knew that was her least favorite subject. I knew that, unlike my other children, my Tekoa gets overwhelmed easily by a big task. And handwriting especially- because of the length of time it takes her, and the amount of writing to be done on each page.
So, I turned her around, pulled out the page, and set it in front of her. She wiped her tears, and without even looking at me she started right in.
No complaining, no thinking about the enormity of the task in her six year old eyes. She started in on the slow process of forming each letter. Lines and curves making letters, making words.
When her lines weren't straight, she erased them and started again. No sighs, no frustration, just pure focus on the task at hand.
Every now and then I would whisper in her ear, "good job." "nice work." "keep going." And she did. Through the whole page.
She did her very best work, because her mom was with her. Her mom was watching every stroke of her pencil. That was all that mattered- the presence of her mother. Mom was in Tekoa's world- at her level, in her classroom, and sitting with her at her desk.
The failure was forgotten, and the huge task ahead was not so intimidating anymore.
It changed everything.
And as for me, I was mesmerized.
I was with her, silently cheering her on. I was watching every line and every curve. And there was nowhere else in the world I would have rather been than in that moment with my daughter.
The slanted lines didn't make me cringe, they drew me in. I knew she would correct them, because she knew I was watching.
The amount of time it took her to complete the page didn't bother me either, because I know that for her, at six years old, this is all that she is capable of. I have no doubt that next year she will be flying through a page like that. But this year, she is only six and she needs more time and more practice.
I'm not concerned, because in my mind, it was just yesterday that she was taking her first steps and forming her first words.
She has come so far from the helpless baby I changed, fed, and held.
I remember how much I loved gazing into those big blue eyes as I nursed her. She would smile at me, and the milk would run down her sweet chin.
Those same big blue eyes are the ones that now fill up with tears at a failed paper airplane, and they are the same big blue eyes that will look at me with excitement when I someday hand her the car keys.
It will happen too fast, but I will be there through it all. Rooting her on. Being with her on her good days and in the trenches with her on her bad days.
It is my joy, it is my pleasure, because I love her. She is part of me.
She has captured my heart through her very existence and she doesn't even have to try to draw me in.
I'm drawn, I'm captivated, I'm forever with her.
Because she is my daughter.
Thank you, Lord, for being the author of that fierce parental love that doesn't hold back. Thank you for being my Father, making me your daughter, and for being right with me in all things.
The understanding of Your love for me, and the knowledge of Your presence in my life changes everything.
I stopped to watch.
On the count of "three" they released the airplanes......and Tekoa's plane didn't fly. It flopped down at her feet.
Her shoulders slumped and she had that "I'm about to fall to pieces" look on her face.
And the mommy in me couldn't hold back.
I walked over to her and scooped her up in my arms. I carried her to a chair, we sat, and she melted. Sobbing.
The teacher's aide came over and whispered, "she's had a rough day."
Which pulled at me even more.
We sat like that until the students were called back to the classroom.
I carried her into her classroom and sat down at her desk- with her body still wrapped around mine.
Her teacher told the students to get out their handwriting pages and to get to work on them.
When I heard "handwriting" my heart pulled yet again, as I knew that was her least favorite subject. I knew that, unlike my other children, my Tekoa gets overwhelmed easily by a big task. And handwriting especially- because of the length of time it takes her, and the amount of writing to be done on each page.
So, I turned her around, pulled out the page, and set it in front of her. She wiped her tears, and without even looking at me she started right in.
No complaining, no thinking about the enormity of the task in her six year old eyes. She started in on the slow process of forming each letter. Lines and curves making letters, making words.
When her lines weren't straight, she erased them and started again. No sighs, no frustration, just pure focus on the task at hand.
Every now and then I would whisper in her ear, "good job." "nice work." "keep going." And she did. Through the whole page.
She did her very best work, because her mom was with her. Her mom was watching every stroke of her pencil. That was all that mattered- the presence of her mother. Mom was in Tekoa's world- at her level, in her classroom, and sitting with her at her desk.
The failure was forgotten, and the huge task ahead was not so intimidating anymore.
It changed everything.
And as for me, I was mesmerized.
I was with her, silently cheering her on. I was watching every line and every curve. And there was nowhere else in the world I would have rather been than in that moment with my daughter.
The slanted lines didn't make me cringe, they drew me in. I knew she would correct them, because she knew I was watching.
The amount of time it took her to complete the page didn't bother me either, because I know that for her, at six years old, this is all that she is capable of. I have no doubt that next year she will be flying through a page like that. But this year, she is only six and she needs more time and more practice.
I'm not concerned, because in my mind, it was just yesterday that she was taking her first steps and forming her first words.
She has come so far from the helpless baby I changed, fed, and held.
I remember how much I loved gazing into those big blue eyes as I nursed her. She would smile at me, and the milk would run down her sweet chin.
Those same big blue eyes are the ones that now fill up with tears at a failed paper airplane, and they are the same big blue eyes that will look at me with excitement when I someday hand her the car keys.
It will happen too fast, but I will be there through it all. Rooting her on. Being with her on her good days and in the trenches with her on her bad days.
It is my joy, it is my pleasure, because I love her. She is part of me.
She has captured my heart through her very existence and she doesn't even have to try to draw me in.
I'm drawn, I'm captivated, I'm forever with her.
Because she is my daughter.
Thank you, Lord, for being the author of that fierce parental love that doesn't hold back. Thank you for being my Father, making me your daughter, and for being right with me in all things.
The understanding of Your love for me, and the knowledge of Your presence in my life changes everything.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
1 Corinthians 10:3-5
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
I do believe I have read those verses many times in my walk with Jesus. And at this point I cannot even remember what I used to think when I read them.
Over the last few months though, these words have come ALIVE. Very literally alive.
Tearing down fortresses. Destroying speculations. Obliterating what we have held higher than the knowledge of God. Teaching us that through Him we actually can take every thought captive.
And He has so much work yet to do!!!
My blog silence has stemmed from this inability to put it all into neat and tidy words.....
You see, I thought we were ok. I thought we were actually doing quite well, honestly. Just a normal family dealing with the normal family issues. We were trying very hard, and using all of our willpower to do everything right. And more often then not, at the end of the day, I thought we came out ok.
And then our eyes were opened. He is so good like that.
What we thought was good enough, He told us was not even close to what He had in mind for us.
We had moved our aim.
We were shooting our arrows at "close enough" and "better than last year" and not at "PERFECTION in Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
"you are not your own....."
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
I do believe I have read those verses many times in my walk with Jesus. And at this point I cannot even remember what I used to think when I read them.
Over the last few months though, these words have come ALIVE. Very literally alive.
Tearing down fortresses. Destroying speculations. Obliterating what we have held higher than the knowledge of God. Teaching us that through Him we actually can take every thought captive.
And He has so much work yet to do!!!
My blog silence has stemmed from this inability to put it all into neat and tidy words.....
You see, I thought we were ok. I thought we were actually doing quite well, honestly. Just a normal family dealing with the normal family issues. We were trying very hard, and using all of our willpower to do everything right. And more often then not, at the end of the day, I thought we came out ok.
And then our eyes were opened. He is so good like that.
What we thought was good enough, He told us was not even close to what He had in mind for us.
We had moved our aim.
We were shooting our arrows at "close enough" and "better than last year" and not at "PERFECTION in Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
"you are not your own....."
We are a family under reconstruction. And we are not the ones in charge.
This mama is not even sure which end is up most days.
This mama is not even sure which end is up most days.
Please bear with us as He teaches us to let go of all we have carefully built for ourselves. Sometimes the letting go is just plain ugly on the outside. Sometimes it is offensive in and of itself.
Sometimes when you look at all the ingredients individually it looks like a big mess. And some of those ingredients taste very bitter on their own.
But we are trusting that God sees the finished product. We are praying that when it is all stirred together and put through the fire He will declare that what He has created is very good.
HE IS GOOD. HIS WORK IS BEAUTIFUL. HE IS A RESTORER.
Our church is fasting this month. An all-church fast from junk food and electronics (except for blogging, of course ;) Wren has already let me know that I'm not supposed to be using the computer.....sheeesh!!
I'm only writing about this to share what God is doing in my heart during this time. He is showing me some very ugly truths about how I survive as a mother of 5.
Of COURSE on the first 3 days of the fast we would be SNOWED IN. Of COURSE we would all be stuck in the house together with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
And it was during those 3 days that the Lord showed me how much I depend on entertainment- for both the kids and myself- and comfort food during my time at home with the kids.
OUCH.
How can I love them and teach them if I cannot be fully immersed in them and meet them on their level? How can I be immersed in them if I am constantly escaping to comfort myself?
I AM SUPPOSED TO BE A REFLECTION OF THEIR SAVIOR'S LOVE.
What kind of Savior am I showing them?
Too busy pursuing my own comfort....needing a break from them....not wanting to be bothered with their constant needs....more concerned with the mess they are making than the fun they are having....barking orders instead of teaching....distant....distracted....frustrated....unapproachable....
NONE of these is a correct reflection of our God and ALL of these are me at times.
I am praying that He will give me the grace to repent and to change.
He is calling us to MORE.
To leave what society tells us is normal and to trade it for what Jesus says is better....
I believe that the root of the issue is what I believe about God's love towards me.
And as I learn more and understand more about His love and His thoughts toward me, it changes my love and my thoughts thoughts toward my children. When I can comprehend the breadth, the length, the height, and the depth of His love- and when I truly believe that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, it changes everything.
When I am parenting from the overflow of the knowledge of His love for me, then I will be a true reflection of that love.
Keep changing me Lord, keep teaching me what is better, keep me immersed in the TRUTH of Your Word, and help me to move that truth from my head to my heart....
I am absolutely nothing at all apart from You.
Our church is fasting this month. An all-church fast from junk food and electronics (except for blogging, of course ;) Wren has already let me know that I'm not supposed to be using the computer.....sheeesh!!
I'm only writing about this to share what God is doing in my heart during this time. He is showing me some very ugly truths about how I survive as a mother of 5.
Of COURSE on the first 3 days of the fast we would be SNOWED IN. Of COURSE we would all be stuck in the house together with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
And it was during those 3 days that the Lord showed me how much I depend on entertainment- for both the kids and myself- and comfort food during my time at home with the kids.
OUCH.
How can I love them and teach them if I cannot be fully immersed in them and meet them on their level? How can I be immersed in them if I am constantly escaping to comfort myself?
I AM SUPPOSED TO BE A REFLECTION OF THEIR SAVIOR'S LOVE.
What kind of Savior am I showing them?
Too busy pursuing my own comfort....needing a break from them....not wanting to be bothered with their constant needs....more concerned with the mess they are making than the fun they are having....barking orders instead of teaching....distant....distracted....frustrated....unapproachable....
NONE of these is a correct reflection of our God and ALL of these are me at times.
I am praying that He will give me the grace to repent and to change.
He is calling us to MORE.
To leave what society tells us is normal and to trade it for what Jesus says is better....
I believe that the root of the issue is what I believe about God's love towards me.
And as I learn more and understand more about His love and His thoughts toward me, it changes my love and my thoughts thoughts toward my children. When I can comprehend the breadth, the length, the height, and the depth of His love- and when I truly believe that His strength is made perfect in my weakness, it changes everything.
When I am parenting from the overflow of the knowledge of His love for me, then I will be a true reflection of that love.
Keep changing me Lord, keep teaching me what is better, keep me immersed in the TRUTH of Your Word, and help me to move that truth from my head to my heart....
I am absolutely nothing at all apart from You.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
You have come to bring hope to this world for You're honor and name
You have come to take sin, to bear shame, and to conquer the grave.
Emmanuel! Our God is with us!
Our Deliverer! You are Savior!
In your presence we find our strength
Over everything, our redemption
God with us!
Our Emmanuel!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Kellenbergers
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
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Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgements are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O Lord.
7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
10
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
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.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
Saturday, November 23, 2013
I need my faithful blog peeps to say a prayer for me tonight please!
I will be leading worship for the CRI (crisis response international) team
that is helping out in Washington, IL.
Pray that God will be glorified and that people will be encouraged and strengthened
by the Lord's presence.
And pray that the Lord will heal my sore throat and scratchy voice. :)
Thanks!!!
I will be leading worship for the CRI (crisis response international) team
that is helping out in Washington, IL.
Pray that God will be glorified and that people will be encouraged and strengthened
by the Lord's presence.
And pray that the Lord will heal my sore throat and scratchy voice. :)
Thanks!!!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
"O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34:3
Sunday was a heartbreaking day for all of us. Lots of prayers went up to the Father on behalf of the tornado victims in the Kellenberger house. We continue to pray that there will be a Spiritual rebuilding as well as physical. That this tragedy will turn hearts to Jesus- the true Healer and Restorer.
There has been some good discussions in our home about how we shouldn't put our trust or joy in our things. They can be taken away from us in an instant.
And about how God is still good even though bad things happen. Oh how good He is.
His goodness has been so apparent to Dave and I over these last few months. We cannot stop praising Him and thanking Him for His goodness.
We tuck our kids in bed and sit down together on our couch and just recount all the ways He has been good to us. We thank Him, we worship Him together, and even this in itself is another reason to thank Him. He changes hearts. He transforms lives.
I sit on my chair right next to the torn up carpeting by the aisle in church and I see His goodness.
I see it in the single mother a few rows back who just gave her life to Him and is soaking Him in as fast as she can. She listened to me speak on Wednesday night on being a servant at home, and this is all new to her. She wants to meet with me and hear more. He is good.
I see it in the woman who was a crack addict and a prostitute. She gets overwhelmed. She has so much to learn and she falls back sometimes but now she knows there is more for her. There are days all she can do is kneel in front of the alter and know that He is meeting her where she is and that He has never stopped loving her. I love to watch her worship her Savior. Sometimes she joins the kids and will hold Tekoa's hand and they dance together. 2 beloved daughters of the King dancing before Him....He is good.
I see it in our good friends whose children tell their teachers that "Miss Michelle" is their best friend :)
The couple who was living together, raising 2 children, and expecting 2 more when they heard the gospel message in its fullness. They were weeping for days under the heavy conviction of the Holy Spirit. They instantly stopped sleeping together and planned a wedding. Living with 4 kids on one fast food income, but in the joy of the One who has saved them. Husband is training now to be a pastor. He is good.
It's in the couple who has been wounded so deeply by adultery in their marriage. The wife through the power of the Holy Spirit who was able to calmly and peacefully call the "other woman" and extend forgiveness. And then tell her that the power to do this comes only from the Lord. What a testimony to both women. He is good.
It's in the prominent couple in the church who is not too proud to tell us that their marriage is struggling and they need prayers and counsel. It's in the way the Holy Spirit leads us to share some of our past pain that we never thought we would ever share, and then the way we watch Him use that pain to minister to them...He is good.
It's in the man whose mother killed his father and yet the Lord has been a Father to him and has lifted him from the chains of abuse, drug use, and sex outside of marriage. He is now a powerful proclaimer of the Word. God is so good!
I see it in the man who was a former introvert passive Christian and he now makes his way around the church boldly praying for his fellow believers. He has seen the Lord administer healing while he prays. He has recently seen for himself the freedom that Jesus offers through the power of His name. He has seen the Lord bust through lifelong strongholds. What a God!!
And I see it in the girl who has led worship most of her life and is learning for the first time what it truly means to be a worship leader. This is the same girl who used to think she was better because of what side of town she lived in. She thought that her life had more value because of the family she was born into. She had a self righteous, selfish heart and still does, but now she is allowing the Lord to break off chains and strongholds and empty her of herself even though it is a painful process that not many of her friends understand. She is seeing the ugliness of her sinful heart and how it is just as ugly if not more ugly than the hearts of the prostitutes, adulterers, drug users.....
It's easier to hide the sins of haughtiness, pride, idolatry, gossip, envy, fear and laziness. You can hide a critical, judgemental heart if you never voice the criticism and judgement. But the sin is still there. In all it's ugliness.
But through the goodness of her God she is seeing for the first time how deeply and intimately He loves her and it is changing her. What an amazing Savior!!!
And I see it in the 2 children that have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and now are desiring to be baptized. He is so good.
Psalm 103
Sunday was a heartbreaking day for all of us. Lots of prayers went up to the Father on behalf of the tornado victims in the Kellenberger house. We continue to pray that there will be a Spiritual rebuilding as well as physical. That this tragedy will turn hearts to Jesus- the true Healer and Restorer.
There has been some good discussions in our home about how we shouldn't put our trust or joy in our things. They can be taken away from us in an instant.
And about how God is still good even though bad things happen. Oh how good He is.
His goodness has been so apparent to Dave and I over these last few months. We cannot stop praising Him and thanking Him for His goodness.
We tuck our kids in bed and sit down together on our couch and just recount all the ways He has been good to us. We thank Him, we worship Him together, and even this in itself is another reason to thank Him. He changes hearts. He transforms lives.
I sit on my chair right next to the torn up carpeting by the aisle in church and I see His goodness.
I see it in the single mother a few rows back who just gave her life to Him and is soaking Him in as fast as she can. She listened to me speak on Wednesday night on being a servant at home, and this is all new to her. She wants to meet with me and hear more. He is good.
I see it in the woman who was a crack addict and a prostitute. She gets overwhelmed. She has so much to learn and she falls back sometimes but now she knows there is more for her. There are days all she can do is kneel in front of the alter and know that He is meeting her where she is and that He has never stopped loving her. I love to watch her worship her Savior. Sometimes she joins the kids and will hold Tekoa's hand and they dance together. 2 beloved daughters of the King dancing before Him....He is good.
I see it in our good friends whose children tell their teachers that "Miss Michelle" is their best friend :)
The couple who was living together, raising 2 children, and expecting 2 more when they heard the gospel message in its fullness. They were weeping for days under the heavy conviction of the Holy Spirit. They instantly stopped sleeping together and planned a wedding. Living with 4 kids on one fast food income, but in the joy of the One who has saved them. Husband is training now to be a pastor. He is good.
It's in the couple who has been wounded so deeply by adultery in their marriage. The wife through the power of the Holy Spirit who was able to calmly and peacefully call the "other woman" and extend forgiveness. And then tell her that the power to do this comes only from the Lord. What a testimony to both women. He is good.
It's in the prominent couple in the church who is not too proud to tell us that their marriage is struggling and they need prayers and counsel. It's in the way the Holy Spirit leads us to share some of our past pain that we never thought we would ever share, and then the way we watch Him use that pain to minister to them...He is good.
It's in the man whose mother killed his father and yet the Lord has been a Father to him and has lifted him from the chains of abuse, drug use, and sex outside of marriage. He is now a powerful proclaimer of the Word. God is so good!
I see it in the man who was a former introvert passive Christian and he now makes his way around the church boldly praying for his fellow believers. He has seen the Lord administer healing while he prays. He has recently seen for himself the freedom that Jesus offers through the power of His name. He has seen the Lord bust through lifelong strongholds. What a God!!
And I see it in the girl who has led worship most of her life and is learning for the first time what it truly means to be a worship leader. This is the same girl who used to think she was better because of what side of town she lived in. She thought that her life had more value because of the family she was born into. She had a self righteous, selfish heart and still does, but now she is allowing the Lord to break off chains and strongholds and empty her of herself even though it is a painful process that not many of her friends understand. She is seeing the ugliness of her sinful heart and how it is just as ugly if not more ugly than the hearts of the prostitutes, adulterers, drug users.....
It's easier to hide the sins of haughtiness, pride, idolatry, gossip, envy, fear and laziness. You can hide a critical, judgemental heart if you never voice the criticism and judgement. But the sin is still there. In all it's ugliness.
But through the goodness of her God she is seeing for the first time how deeply and intimately He loves her and it is changing her. What an amazing Savior!!!
And I see it in the 2 children that have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and now are desiring to be baptized. He is so good.
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
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