He Heals the Broken Hearted

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalms 147:3 ESV)

Recently someone dear to me has suffered a loss. It is not common knowledge. It was not broadcast or published and therefore most people would not know about the loss. I can see the pain and feel helpless. I have prayed about it and I know God is working. He has promised to heal and bind and He is a faithful God. I don't know whether to talk about it or just wait and be available. I am trusting the Holy Spirit to move and show me. I don't want to make matters worse.

I know He is answering. I can see there is no anger or bitterness...just traces of sadness over the loss and more compassion for others. Maybe that was God's plan all along... It wasn't the hurt or sorrow... Just the extended mercy and grace toward others... That's why we are still here right?!

Love you dearly friend!!

Arla

Miracles Will Never Cease

Matthew 21:22 "and all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive."

As long as there is God there will be miracles. I don't begin to understand the how's and whys, why are some requests granted while others are not... God alone knows why and I believe when we stand before Him, He will be able to explain. For now I do not have to know, I just trust in simple faith that He knows best.
In my limited knowledge, I am not able to explain; however I do ponder... The story of Job... The bible states Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil. My dictionary says that means he deliberately avoided evil. Yet a lot of bad things happened in Job's life as a result of satan. Why satan was allowed to bother Job I know not. I do see the blame for all that befell Job lies with satan. He was allowed to torment Job with hopes Job would turn from God.
God knew Job would remain faithful and God blessed Job for his faithfulness. Still why did it happen?
Perhaps Job had a lesson to learn. Maybe he thought he was self sufficient in his walk without needing assistance. No where do I read where Job asked God for deliverance. Why? Would his torment have been shorter lived if he had cried out to God for deliverance rather than just accepting it as justly deserved?
Several years ago I had a bad health report and accepted it much the same as Job. If this was the master plan then I was going to rock it. I had my testimony planned...all the lives I would impact with my faith walk through this trial and then it was gone. The initial reports were refuted with further testing. Was I misdiagnosed or healed? Only God knows. Why me and not so many others? Again only God knows.
I love Laura Story's Blessings...."Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?"

Here is one version I found on YouTube:

Blessings - Laura Story - LYRICS - YouTube

► 4:44► 4:44

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0

Mar 21, 2011 - Uploaded by allyymichelle

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your ...What if trials of ...

Again I don't pretend to know all the answers of the whys and why nots. I just know for me God has always been there. HE listens and answers and even in the "no" HE has only my best at heart

Awed by God's unconditional love for one such as me,
Arla

God's Grace and Mercy

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

When God doesn't answer our prayer exactly how we expected or maybe it seems He doesn't answer at all we truly see how deep the well of our faith lies. Do I still believe HE loves me? Do I trust that HE knows what is best?

In these moments when we struggle we truly have to be on guard and gather support of fellow believers to pray with us against the attacks of the enemy. These are the moments when satan speaks his lies and we too often believe them. Just as Eve was deceived in the garden, we too can be so easily deceived. The result can be significant as it hinders our prayers. 

I want to encourage you to stand firm in faith and boldly proclaim out loud "I am a child of the Most High God! HE loves me so much HE sacrificed HIS son for me! HE will never leave me nor forsake me! Devil you may as well flee! You will have no victory over me!" Then, kneel at the feet of the God who loves you and rest in knowing HE always has your best at heart.

Stomping my feet at the enemy and proudly proclaiming I am in awe of God who loves me so much!
Arla

Summoned by Name

"But now thus says the Lord, HE who created you, O Jacob, HE who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. (Isaiah 43:1-3 ESV)

How truly awesome to be called by God by name! To know that HE wants personal relationship with ME, unworthy as I am and HE will use any situation or circumstance in my life for HIS glory if I willingly allow HIM open access!

I recently found myself in a situation where I totally wanted to freak out and did not know what to do.  I found myself stuck between two people I care deeply for and wanted to fix the issues they were having with each other. Listening to each my heart went out and I did not want to be forced to choose sides. I could see both sides and realized where both believed they were right. What do I say? What do I do?  How can I fix it?

The great news is I prayed and stayed out of God's way. God put me in the situation where I could pray and that is all I was called to do! I planned out words of wisdom to speak truth when provided the opportunity and guess what? The opportunity never came! Before I had a chance to speak, before any of the gloom and doom I feared would come to pass happened, God acted and resolved the issue.  HE responded to my prayers. HE listened and HE acted.

At first I was astonished and then I stood amazed, a little disappointed that I was not the vessel to accomplish a great feat.  What power had been initiated simply through diligent prayer! Now I look to other areas of my life where I am stressed by what may.  Where I am trying to play god! What am I worried about? God has summoned me by name! Nothing escapes HIS eye and when I pass through the waters HE has promised HE will be with me. When I pass through the rivers they will not overflow me and when I pass through the fire I will not be burned, the flame will not consume me. HE has it all under control....do I trust HIM? Do I believe HIM? You bet I do!

One thing I have learned, I am not GOD and I do not know.  Honestly I don't want to.  It is truly beyond me to fix any situation and to manage people.  I think I will stick to what I do...pray and leave the rest to HIM.  HE alone is GOD Almighty!

Awed by a God who calls me by name,
Arla

God Speaks

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3 ESV)

Daily I am amazed by God who loves me enough to send His son to die for my sins. He loves us so much and He so wants relationship with us. In Jeremiah, He tells us to call to Him and He will answer us. He will tell us great and hidden things.

I love to ask questions and hear Him speak. To see how He will show up next. When we pray and truly seek His guidance, He will amaze us as He works.  I love the way God works through anything and everything when we are listening for His voice and seeking His guidance. 

Monday night I went to an event reluctantly as I was tired and it took me away from my family. The questions began, God am I suppose to be here? Really, the family needs me at home… At the event there were dishes of chocolates here and there, you know how we women love our chocolate. These particular chocolates are wrapped in foil and include a word message written on the inside of the wrapper. I opened my chocolate to the words "you are exactly where you are suppose to be.” 

Call me crazy, but I believe God answered the question of my heart that night through chocolate! Now HE is speaking my language…lol.

Awed and amazed by a God who loves me so much!
Arla

Trust

“In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:4-5

What am I trusting?  Each and every day as I live life, what is my constant?  Some days it is quite evident, other days not so.  As I have read through this book Stressed-less Living by Tracie Miles, I have found myself less stressed.  Is it because of this book I am reading or it is because of the commitment I am making to God?

I would venture, the commitment is the answer.  Too often I allow myself to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and fail to acknowledge HIM and all HE is to me.  I fail to daily feed on HIS word and talk with HIM.  The further I stray, the more stressed I become as I pull further away from the source of my peace and joy.

Has my life changed in the past eight weeks?  Same marriage, same family, same job, same address...life has taken some turns with our children.  We watch them struggle with hard issues in life.  There is no more, no less "things" in life about which I could stress; however, with the song of HIS praises and worship playing in the background, I find myself less stressed over the seeming impossible.  I know I have a hope, I have a future in HIM.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I heard a new song at church that really spoke to my heart recently.  


Here is the Link to a YouTube video:  Passion 2013 - My Delight is in You (Christy Nockles)

Lyrics:-

My delight is in You
On Your word I set my heart
You are peace, You are calm for my restless soul
You light my way through the dark

I want to know You even more
Holiness is my desire
Purify, burn in me, come and make me clean
You refine me in Your fire

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You

My delight is in You, Lord
You're the treasure I have found
You're the rock where I stand
I will not be moved
All my life is in Your hands

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You

Here I am, open arms
Draw me close to Your heart
You're my life, You're my refuge
My delight, my delight is in You
My delight is in You
My delight is in You

My prayer for your life and mine is our delight will always be in HIM alone.

Awed by HIS mercy and grace,
Arla

WhatEVER

Whatever...

Funny how perspective changes EVERYTHING....

Whenever I am focused on God and looking for all the good things, good ways HE is blessing me, life could not be better.  I see opportunities to share His love and speak His truth and feel like a vessel that is full and overflowing....

Whenever I am focused on ME and all things happening wrong in MY WORLD and how I wish things were different...what if I had...what if I hadn't...why didn't this...what about that.... Oh how stressed I become!

Life is full of bumps and curves...sometimes I take the road less traveled...Often I see so much when I do....and then there are days....when all I can do is cry, cry, cry... What makes things different?  Am I transported from one world to another?

Yes, in fact I am...whenever I focus on Jesus and all HE has done, is doing, and will continue to do for me, I am transported to the presence of Jesus...and the scenery around me is different.  This world doesn't seem so bad for a temporary lay over....because you see...one day soon, I am going home!

And some days I just can't wait to get there!

Awed by HIS mercy and grace,
Arla