I thought I was going to be done posting for the weekend but some news came my way that led me to the Scriptures, and then I wanted to just journal my thoughts so.....
it started with a phone call from a friend last evening. She is going through a difficult time right now with a teenager. I won't go into details but...she needs my prayers. This is what friends are for. To encourage each other, build each other up, and pray with out ceasing! As I prayed for her and the situation last night, the verses from Philippians 4 came to my mind. Now, I have probably had these verses memorized for 20+ years but....they really spoke something to me last night in a new way. At least, for me. Then after talking with my mother on the phone earlier today, she gave me the news that my dad's best friend (since kindergarten! My dad entered kindergarten in 1937!) just died from heart problems. My dad is pretty sad. He feels like he wishes he had done more to get his best friend into the Kingdom. (of course, we don't know what kinds of seeds were planted and cultivated over the years....but the Lord knows). During this conversation, I asked my mother about my youngest sister who is in the first trimester of her 2nd pregnancy. She is still very ill and had to be hospitalized because of the constant vomiting again. (this is just like her first pregnancy). Since I never had morning sickness with my 2 pregnancies, I can only imagine what my sister is going through. I cannot really grasp it because I was only a little bit nauseous and it only lasted for 2-3 weeks. I was never ill during pregnancy. Again, the Holy Spirit was prompting me to re-read the verses from Philippians 4: 6 & 7: "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." I am sure my mom is anxious about my sister. I am sure my dad is anxious about his friend dying and not really knowing for sure if he is with the Lord or not. I know my friend is anxious about her and her son's situation. I get anxious thinking of things in the future such as what type of husband will my girls marry? will they even get married? will they continue to follow Christ once they are out on their own? BUT: the Word tells us to be anxious for NOTHING! And we need to be honest and specific with the Lord about our feelings and our requests. Will this mean God is going to grant our every wish? Certainly not! However: when we add up prayer, with thanksgivng and supplication, telling God our specific requests, from our hearts, He will bring His peace. It is incomprehensible but I know from experience that God's Word is true. His peace passes all our understanding but....it does flood our souls in times of anxiety if we cast all our cares on Him, and make our requests known to Him. And if you don't experience His Peace, examine your heart. Peace dwells in a life that is without sin. If we have experienced God's forgiveness, we will know His peace! When the storms of life are raging all around us, we can have peace in the midst of it. Like my blog title says...."gold in the clouds", even if the rainbow is passing by us.
Let's pray for friends/family who are dealing with tough situations and encourage them to make their requests known to God and cast their anxieties on Him so they can experience Peace.
it started with a phone call from a friend last evening. She is going through a difficult time right now with a teenager. I won't go into details but...she needs my prayers. This is what friends are for. To encourage each other, build each other up, and pray with out ceasing! As I prayed for her and the situation last night, the verses from Philippians 4 came to my mind. Now, I have probably had these verses memorized for 20+ years but....they really spoke something to me last night in a new way. At least, for me. Then after talking with my mother on the phone earlier today, she gave me the news that my dad's best friend (since kindergarten! My dad entered kindergarten in 1937!) just died from heart problems. My dad is pretty sad. He feels like he wishes he had done more to get his best friend into the Kingdom. (of course, we don't know what kinds of seeds were planted and cultivated over the years....but the Lord knows). During this conversation, I asked my mother about my youngest sister who is in the first trimester of her 2nd pregnancy. She is still very ill and had to be hospitalized because of the constant vomiting again. (this is just like her first pregnancy). Since I never had morning sickness with my 2 pregnancies, I can only imagine what my sister is going through. I cannot really grasp it because I was only a little bit nauseous and it only lasted for 2-3 weeks. I was never ill during pregnancy. Again, the Holy Spirit was prompting me to re-read the verses from Philippians 4: 6 & 7: "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." I am sure my mom is anxious about my sister. I am sure my dad is anxious about his friend dying and not really knowing for sure if he is with the Lord or not. I know my friend is anxious about her and her son's situation. I get anxious thinking of things in the future such as what type of husband will my girls marry? will they even get married? will they continue to follow Christ once they are out on their own? BUT: the Word tells us to be anxious for NOTHING! And we need to be honest and specific with the Lord about our feelings and our requests. Will this mean God is going to grant our every wish? Certainly not! However: when we add up prayer, with thanksgivng and supplication, telling God our specific requests, from our hearts, He will bring His peace. It is incomprehensible but I know from experience that God's Word is true. His peace passes all our understanding but....it does flood our souls in times of anxiety if we cast all our cares on Him, and make our requests known to Him. And if you don't experience His Peace, examine your heart. Peace dwells in a life that is without sin. If we have experienced God's forgiveness, we will know His peace! When the storms of life are raging all around us, we can have peace in the midst of it. Like my blog title says...."gold in the clouds", even if the rainbow is passing by us.
Let's pray for friends/family who are dealing with tough situations and encourage them to make their requests known to God and cast their anxieties on Him so they can experience Peace.
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