A New Chapter, Moving Forward With Expectant Hope!

We've become people of action; people that respect decision. "Do anything, even if it's wrong, but do something! God can't steer a parked car!"But when God says, "Wait!" waiting is not indecision, it's obedience!

It's hard to wait, we're always ready to get on with it. "Let's getter done!" We're ready to move ahead, conquer and overcome, but just because we think we're ready, doesn't mean that God agrees. We don't see things from His perspective and hearing His, "Wait!" is just as important as each and everyone of His other commands. To not wait, when we know God has ask us to be still, is disobedience and peer pressure doesn't change that. "Wait" means wait and that's all wait means.

We're used to taking a problem head on and forming a plan of action and running with it! To "be still" and not know why, when it doesn't make common sense, seems foolish; we push to make things happen ~ we want to take control! We don't always give our children the details when we say "wait," but we expect them to hear it and act on it. Our "wait" always has their best interests at heart, their failure to obey could bring devastating consequences.

I feel like I've waited months, desiring to get on with my life, but have sensed God's restraint and there always seemed to be that one more thing to do. There's been the need for healing, many things to take care of. It's been 8 months, today, since Jim went home to be with the Lord. My life, in but a moment, was turned upside down, never to be the same again. No longer a couple, but one; no longer a pastor's wife; but God used that brokenness and change for good ~ to build a deeper, stronger and more intimate relationship with Him.

God hasn't forsaken me, He's filled the void with Himself! He's carried me, comforted and counseled! For 8 months, He has met my every need ~ He's taken care of me, completely. He's provided in ways, like Jim's dad says, "Well, it's just unexplainable" ~ unimaginable ways! It's made a huge impact on my life, how I view God has been forever changed. I've seen His care first hand; He's shown me the depth of His love in ways I've never seen. There's no other explanation for what's taken place, but that it's been Him. I don't know why, but He's taken the time to show me Himself, up close and personal. The depth of His love has only bred a deeper love and trust, a desire to be with Him, to follow Him, no matter what.

The blessings have been as great or greater than the grief! He's caused me to soar, just when I needed to be peeled off the floor! He's shown me Himself, the depth and height of His love, when the void seemed larger than the Grand Canyon. He has walked and talked with me, as if we were face to face, when I appeared to be all alone. Not only do I not want to forget it, I want Him to keep me here, whatever that takes. I know if left to myself, I will move away, I know my frame. I don't want to move on with life, as if He never happened, but to remain, to abide and go deeper still.

There's a light, now, at the end of the tunnel! God seems to be bringing closure, here. I'm finally, coming up on a moving sale next weekend, a move seems to be but weeks away. There's mixed emotions, leaving those I care about and love here; but I want to go with God and that will always move me out of my comfort zone. I do not know the assignment, but only know we're going to the east coast and then He will show me what's next. He still requires me to trust Him, one day at a time, one step at a time. God has promised to establish me and I believe He will; He's done all He's said He would do, He will do this too!

For those of you that I know are following my blog that have lost spouses too, I continue to pray for you, daily! One of you is about 6 months ahead of me and two of you are about 6 months behind me. You have all been an inspiration to me! We have all handled it differently, every situation is unique, but what we all have in common is Jesus as our Lord ~ He has been our comfort! May God bless and keep you, as you look ahead to Him, as your expectant hope. I know it's difficult, and beyond overwhelming, but I know God will continue to see us through. I know there are stages of grief and loss and sometimes they are repeated. I pray God will hold you fast at whatever stage you find yourself in today, as only He can do ~ you can trust Him for that. It's been good for me to be still and work through the grief before making any big moves; God knows us better than we know ourselves. We can trust He knows best!

I know I have become more heavenly minded through this, as more of those whom I treasure, so deeply, are there; but, as I seek the passions of God's heart, my heart becomes more burdened for the lost. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain, but what about those that would perish? I don't want to live a life grieving over what I've lost, but to celebrate what Jim has gained and to live the life I have left for eternity's sake. I want to move beyond the grief, to a God centered life, to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and to have a love for others.

There's more changes ahead ~ a move to the east coast and then a move from there, to whatever God calls me to: finding work, a new church family, ministry, whatever. And there's the leaving behind of those I've come to love here, my church family, coworkers and friends. Change doesn't come easy! With so much change, I'm all the more grateful for what remains the same: God never changes ~ He is always the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Though, I haven't been writing blogs, recently, you're on my heart, I haven't forgotten you, I pray for you! I'm still sitting at His feet, but turning to do what He's given me to do. Know I'm praying for each one of you! I covet your prayers, as well, as I step in faith to follow after God, seeking to be in total surrender, to do whatever He asks, wherever He leads. May God bless each one of you! Lord willing, I will be able to return to the blogging I so enjoy, soon! But for the moment, the waiting is over and action is required to be in obedience.

Keep seeking! The love relationship is key to knowing God's will and hearing His voice! We must remain in the Vine, daily! It's like manna, yesterday's bread, grows stale, we have to feed ourselves the Word, fresh and anew each day. Each morning to align ourselves with Him, to know what's on His heart and what's important. May God bless you and keep you! Lord willing, I'll be back soon, but until then keep abiding!

Of Like Precious Faith,

Sheryl

Obedience, Our Outward Expression Of Love For God

Obedience is our outward expression of our love to God, it displays our love relationship with Him. He identifies our love for Him by our obedience. Yes, it's by grace (unmerited favor) and through faith that we are saved, but faith requires obedience in action ~ without faith, there is no life. Without faith it's impossible to please God. If we love Him, through obedience (faith in action) then He seals us with His Spirit, forever ~ the Spirit of Truth. We are His, His Spirit lives in us!

John 15:14-21 says,
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever ~ the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love Him and show myself to him."

Jesus says that those who obey His commands are the ones that love Him. He says that those who love Him, the Father will, also, love and God rewards our obedience by showing Himself to us.

How can we know we have come to know Him?

1 John 2:3-6 says,
"We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, 'I know Him, ' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did."

Obedience, to God's Word, walking as Jesus did, is the outward expression of our love for God, it displays our love relationship with Him. The lack of obedience is a love issue!

When we come to that moment of truth, that point of decision of whether to obey God or not, it will show what we truly believe about God. We will not obey unless we believe Him and trust Him and we won't believe and trust Him unless we love Him, which requires recognizing the depth of His love for us and we cannot recognize His love for us and love Him unless we first know Him.

God's commands give us a new knowledge and understanding of Him and His character as He draws us and reveals Himself to us. As we come to know His Word, His commands, we come to know Him, more intimately. As we come to know Him and love Him, we will obey Him and come to know Him by experience; if we do not obey Him, it indicates that we do not know Him.

Jeremiah 7:23 says,
"Obey me, (our part) and I will be your God and you will be My people. (His part) Walk in all the ways I command you, (our part) that it may go well with you." (His part)

Deuteronomy 28:1,8 says,
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow His commands I give you today, (our part) the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth~ The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to."(His part)

Deuteronomy 28:15, 20 says,
"If you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today ~ The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking Him."

Obedience is the difference in success and ruin!

Luke 6:46-49 says,
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears My words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Obedience is important! It's our love language to the Lord! It's the difference in rock or sand! Is your house built on a firm foundation, are you saved by grace through faith (obedience in action) or is your house built on sand, you do not hear God's words and do not put them into practice!

Faith without action is dead. Faith requires the action of believing God to the point of obedience. Without faith it's impossible to please God!  Obedience expresses our love for God and displays our love relationship with Him to others. Others see God in our obedience. As we follow Him we experience Him working in us and through us in many ways. To follow God requires the total surrender of the will. May God bless you as you seek Him, may you find Him and understand the depth of His love for you, then you will obey Him fully!

In Matthew 12:50 Jesus said,

"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

We have to know His will to do His will and those that do His will become His family! 

To Go With God Requires Sacrifice and Change

As believer's we all look forward to God speaking and giving us the big assignment. The problem is that when God speaks and gives us an assignment it always requires big changes! We, often, don't want to move out of our comfort zone, but to follow God we can't stay where we are.

Since a God assignment is always only what God can do, it will look too big, as we look at our ability and resources, but if we choose to believe God will do what He says He will do, in us and through us, we will respond in faith. We will have to make big adjustments to follow Him in obedience.

When Jim and I felt God was calling us to return to Homer, Alaska to help plant a church, first we had to believe it was God speaking to us and that He would do what He said He would do, to respond in faith. We, also, had to believe God could use us to be apart of what He was planning to do. We had no experience, but only God's call. It was big deal! We would have to leave family and friends behind, move 4,933 miles away from where we were. We would have to believe God would provide for us to make the move, as well as provide housing and jobs. There were alot of adjustments to make. He told us where we were going, but we had to trust Him to provide housing and jobs when we got there.

We felt led to pay off all our bills before going and to have a moving sale to down size. By making these adjustments, we were putting faith in action. We were believing and acting on that belief that we had heard God speak and that He would use us to be apart of what He was planning to do. We always want to move from the hearing of the assignment to doing it, but there are always adjustments to make and God always brings the character up to the assignment.

Abraham had to make huge adjustments in what he was doing to follow God. He was living in Ur and would have to leave all his goals and dreams he had there behind. He had to leave family and friends, huge sacrifices were made to do God's will. There was much he had to do before, actually, setting out for the place God said He'd show him. He would have to decide what to do with what he was leaving behind and prepare for travel that which he was taking with him. Adjustments take time!

Unlike us, Abraham didn't know where he was going! Ever set out to go somewhere, but didn't know where you were going? This wasn't a surprise birthday party, "Cover your eyes, we're going for a short ride, open your eyes!" This was leaving for life, and moving to a place you didn't know, to do what God you'd never done before; trusting God to reveal His will, one step at a time! This was a big deal!

To go with God requires faith! Faith requires action, believing God will do what He said He'd do and that He can do it through you! It requires big changes, total surrender and it requires obedience, no will of your own, but simply to follow His desired will. We all want the big assignments, but are we really willing to make the big sacrifice, to move out of our comfort zones, to leave so much behind?

Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Gideon, the disciples, Paul, etc. all had to sacrifice and leave what they were doing, their plans, their goals, their lives and make huge changes to obey and follow all God was asking them to do. God given assignments require big change, you can't stay where you are and go with God. Doing God's will, will have great costs and require big sacrifices, but ask anyone who's done it and they will tell you, it was worth it all!

To go with God is to know His Presence and to witness God doing what only He can do! God shows you Himself, in ways you've never seen Him! You get to see Him as Provider, because God always provides for what He's doing! The sacrifice is a great, but the blessings far out weigh the sacrifices! May God bless you, as you seek to follow Him in full surrender to His will!