A Witness...

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

I have come from a place of hurt and cutting remarks; a place of insecurity and criticism. Only to find my self empowered to give to those that which I did not have. I have learned to speak life, for His word tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit” Proverbs 18:21. I have spoke life into someone, by sending out a blessing for them every morning for the last few months and I have watched with sweet joy as their life has changed and they have moved towards greatness. I will never cease to pray for this person and speak blessings over their life. I believe this person is immensely important. The Lord is good and he hears our prayers for others. “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things” Proverbs 12:14a.

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

I have overcome suicidal depression. I have at one point in my life, many years ago now, been so reeked with sorrow that I didn’t even remember places that I went and people that I saw. I wanted to go to sleep and not wake up. Then I was saved and the promises of the Lord out weighed the lies of the devil. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. I have learned to edify and build myself up with the word of God. I have overcome.

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

I have a friend who was a new believer in the Lord and her husband was giving her a rough time about it. He was a critical man who carried a lot of frustration. My friend asked me one day to help her cry out to the Lord because she couldn’t take the constant persecution. That night I lay on my face before the Lord and cried out for my friend, that God would save her husband and relieve her of her burden. Two days later he was sitting in church beside her and he is going to be baptized and he has just returned victoriously from drug rehabilitation. He was hardened, now he is soft. He was skeptical, now he believes. He was lost, now he is saved.

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

My friend was running wild and living amongst the world. He grew up in an abusive home and he couldn’t commit to one person. Because of the grace of the Lord he found a woman who loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him and through his and her prayers he was able to commit. Now he is secure in his new marriage to his best friend and they are building a beautiful life together. They find themselves woke up in the middle of night to pray… together.

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

My friend who grew up in the church was confused about where she belonged and who she was. Through her steadfast commitment to the Lord she has found her way home and demonstrates her love for Him and for people as she plays the melody on the keyboard every church service. She is beautiful.

I am a witness to the glory of the Lord.

A fast paced married couple ran hard and played hard. They jumped from one business idea to another, one weekend in Cabo to a month in Panama, all in the attempt to find something that was missing. It wasn’t until they listened long enough to the still small voice of God that their souls calmed. They are no longer restless and they serve as Deacons in their church and lead people in their business powerfully and focused; with a sense of ease. Because they hope in the Lord they soar on wings like eagles.

I will continue to be a witness to the glory of the Lord.

I am free. I am free to embark on the passions He has favorably fashioned in me. I am acting and writing and trusting the Lord to unfold the ideas and talent he has placed within me. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” Proverbs 16: 3. I believe the Lord for my passionate love; my husband. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” James 1:17. The Lord is faithful. Most of the time God’s miracles come in the form of people…so watch closely.

What have you witnessed?

Light...

The evening sky is melting away behind the hills and the last bit of sunshine is stretching its rays through the clouds as to hold on awhile longer to the passing day. As the sun sets on our side of the world it rises on the other. There is always light somewhere in the world.

Let us be the light that shines from behind the mountain tops and shoots across the water and the rays that break through the clouds.

Let us not be self righteous light that glares with scorn upon those that are dim. Let us stand closer to those who have a flicker that it may ignite into a brightly glowing flame.

Let us shine brighter than the street signs, the television screens, and the physical reflections in the mirror. Let us light the way. May we let our light shine that people will see out good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven.

Let us save the world from its darkness.

Hope in the Revelation of God’s Agenda

'New Beginnings' is the excited cry of 2008. A new year that ushers in resolutions and plans that supersede our previous years' wonderings. We vow to live better, healthier and happier lives. All of which is important and the evaluation of the prior years progress in crucial. However, in this attempt to recreate ourselves do we miss the voice of God? The voice that is telling us His will for our lives; the voice that knows the plans He has for us. We must seek after the revelation of God's abundant will and the discovery of His agenda through prayer.

We must realize that God is not impressed by our grand ideas and the efforts we put forth to accomplish what we believe to be a great feat. We become enamored by our own noble exploits and believe that God should be pleased and in awe of us. Yet our labors and intricate plans are nothing compared to what God has designed for us. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20). God's plans out weigh and surpass the mere capability of our minds to imagine a plan that would even compare to His. We must not insist upon living out our own incisive agendas. We cannot operate outside of God's will and then ask God to bless it. We must seek the revelation of His abundant will and it will already be blessed.

God's will is not hidden from you; all you have to do is ask that it be revealed to you. The revelation of God's will, will not always unfold as neatly as we had planned or even take us in the direction we were heading. A complete turn around may be required. As Christians we must follow God's will even if it does not make sense to us at that moment. We can plan our course, but the Lord will determine our steps. God does not ask your opinion on where you would like to go or the people you would like to meet or what we think is best for our future. He doesn't need our opinion, because he already knows. In Galatians 1:12 Paul was called by God to preach the gospel and said "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." God's will begins with revelation.

We receive the needed revelation to God's will through prayer. Jesus is our example to follow. He separated himself from the masses and prayed to God in the early mornings so as to keep his mission set by God on the right path. When Jesus was tempted by the devil to follow the ways of the world, He prayed (Matthew 4). "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God" (Luke 6:12); when he had prayed all night he was ready to select His twelve disciples. Jesus prayed to God before miracles took place. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and they rolled away the stone to his tomb, He said "…Father, I thank you that you have heard me" (John 11:41). Prayer preceded all the happenings in Jesus' life including His walk to the cross. Jesus sought revelation from the Father to walk out the calling upon His life. How much more important is it for us to seek the Lord in prayer to discover the revelation of His glorious agenda for our lives?

With prayer and revelation we will walk in God's agenda for our lives and we will be shown the way; step by step. "Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying "This is the way; walk in it"" (Isaiah 30:20-21). Gods' people must live by revelation. Each new revelation from God is a chance and the hope for a new beginning. ~Rebecca Williams