The following is from my oldest daughter, Macayla. I asked her to be a guest writer this time. Hope it challenges you and makes you smile. :)
I am going to be singing 'Write Your Story', by Francesca Battistelli, in my school's upcoming Talent Show. I really like this song. I'm not so much into the older, slower songs that my parents were into when they were little. For instance, I also really like Toby Mac. In one of Toby Mac's songs, "Forgiveness", Lecrae raps. I memorized it excitedly because it was the first Christian rap I had really ever heard. I especially love to dance and sing to upbeat songs. I feel so passionate when I listen to songs like those. That's why Francesca's song was so special to me.
The song is about how God is the King of Everything, and how He has a plan for all of us, individually. Though we may cross paths with other believers and nonbelievers, the outcome of our lives won't be exactly the same. Jeremiah 29:11 says, '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 a hope and a future.' Through troubling times and the ones that make us want to LOL, God always has something in mind for what's happening right now.
Have any of you ever doubted your Faith? Whether or not God is real? I'll be honest and say that I have. It used to be a bit more frequently, but not so much now. Anyway, I love how Francesca introduces the song. The first verses start, 'They say...' As in, other people are saying these things and she doesn't know whether or not to believe them, because so many people have so many opinions and beliefs. Later in the song she says, 'I wanna tell you now that I believe it...'
To me, these words are so powerful. How many of you have heard the words, "God can do anything?" I'm not saying that's a bad thing, because this statement is true. Saying this is like saying the sky is blue. The song has many different proofs to this statement. She says, 'You can give the blind their sight, You can bring the dead to life.' In another verse, she also says, 'You can make me new.' This song, in fact, may give us even more insight and meaning to the expression...wait for it...GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!
The last part of the song goes like this, 'I want my history to be a legacy. Go ahead and show the world what you've done in me.' I'm pretty sure that this means that she wants to be an example for God, in everything she does. That when people think of her, she wants them to think, 'Hey, that Francesca Battistelli girl, isn't she a Christian? That's cool how she follows God in every day living.' I want to be like that too. I want people to say, 'Macayla is such a strong Christian. I love how she believes that God is all powerful, and she is such an example to other people. I want to be like her and make a difference for God.'
If you haven't heard this song, you should look it up. It's so inspiring! So let me ask you this to finish off... Are you showing others that you believe in God? Do YOU believe that God can do anything? Whether you answered yes or no to either of these questions, I want to send you off on a mission. I want you to pray to God and accept his plan for your life. Tell him that you'll stop trying to make your own plan, that you'll stop doing your own thing. Ask God to write his story on your heart, and while you're at that, go and make disciples. Write your story on other peoples' lives. Make a difference.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
This blog may be a bit foggy...
FOG:
1) A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility.
2) Something that obscures and confuses a situation or someone's thought processes.
3) Bewilder or puzzle (someone)
4) Make (an idea or situation) difficult to understand.
Driving when the conditions outside are foggy can be a stressful thing. I really don't enjoy it. But I had something to do out of town that particular day, so I didn't have much choice.
Have you ever been in a state of "fog"? Ya know what I'm talking about...confusion, lost, and things just seem so unclear. It would seem that because of this, that clarity just isn't going to come. Wrong. God has spoken to me in that fog...in that uncertainty of times. Though I could hardly see anything in front of me, God couldn't have been more clear.
Since we have a 3 year old in the house, my "quiet times" are not always that quiet. My life is loud at times, sometimes so loud that the voice of God is drowned out to where I can't hear at all. My foggy drive the other day consisted of 3 hours of windshield time...all by myself. The only music I absolutely love listening to is Christian radio. God speaks through music...He spoke to me through the words that I sang. The fog had not lifted at all on my drive home. It was getting darker too, so this made driving more difficult.
I've had some pretty serious discussions with God recently. Things that I just don't understand, but "His ways are not our ways..." As I was praying, talking, and trying to listen to what God is trying to say to me, it was in that fog that I finally got it! I'm 41 years old, and I'm finally seeing some things that He's probably tried to teach me for years. But it's easier when we can see the path ahead of us, right?!??
Here's the deal. There I was driving in the thick consistent fog, and the only thing I could do was pray for safety...both for me and for the other drivers around...and also to just keep my car between the lines. I stayed away from the middle yellow lines, just in case an oncoming car did not. And though it was very difficult to see anything in front of me much of my drive, I trusted God to get me where I needed to go. Of course I had to pay close attention. That's a given and a must while driving on the road. But in our everyday walk with Jesus, we have to pay close attention and not be careless. Things that can hurt or cause us to detour on our road to God can come out of nowhere, but as long as we keep our "eyes on the road" (to Jesus), He will take care of all of that.
As I was praying that day while staying close to the line I could see, I had God's peace, even in the things I could not see. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see." Certain...think about what that means. I had more peace not being able to see what was in front of me, more than I have during those times where I've had complete visibility.
What about you? Are you having a difficult time trusting God in the fog? Listen, He sees the big picture. It's completely clear for Him. It doesn't need to be clear for you just yet. He knows. He sees. Trust Him...He will direct you. Just stay close to what little you can see and trust Him with the rest. Pay close attention. Don't fear. Be obedient.
I will always remember that foggy day where God was as clear as can be to me in the areas where I need to trust more. "God is not a God of confusion" (I Corin. 14:33). So just remember the next time you have confused thoughts, or you are lost in the fog, just choose to trust Him...even if He chooses not to turn that fogginess to clarity just yet.
1) A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere or near the earth's surface that obscures or restricts visibility.
2) Something that obscures and confuses a situation or someone's thought processes.
3) Bewilder or puzzle (someone)
4) Make (an idea or situation) difficult to understand.
Driving when the conditions outside are foggy can be a stressful thing. I really don't enjoy it. But I had something to do out of town that particular day, so I didn't have much choice.
Have you ever been in a state of "fog"? Ya know what I'm talking about...confusion, lost, and things just seem so unclear. It would seem that because of this, that clarity just isn't going to come. Wrong. God has spoken to me in that fog...in that uncertainty of times. Though I could hardly see anything in front of me, God couldn't have been more clear.
Since we have a 3 year old in the house, my "quiet times" are not always that quiet. My life is loud at times, sometimes so loud that the voice of God is drowned out to where I can't hear at all. My foggy drive the other day consisted of 3 hours of windshield time...all by myself. The only music I absolutely love listening to is Christian radio. God speaks through music...He spoke to me through the words that I sang. The fog had not lifted at all on my drive home. It was getting darker too, so this made driving more difficult.
I've had some pretty serious discussions with God recently. Things that I just don't understand, but "His ways are not our ways..." As I was praying, talking, and trying to listen to what God is trying to say to me, it was in that fog that I finally got it! I'm 41 years old, and I'm finally seeing some things that He's probably tried to teach me for years. But it's easier when we can see the path ahead of us, right?!??
Here's the deal. There I was driving in the thick consistent fog, and the only thing I could do was pray for safety...both for me and for the other drivers around...and also to just keep my car between the lines. I stayed away from the middle yellow lines, just in case an oncoming car did not. And though it was very difficult to see anything in front of me much of my drive, I trusted God to get me where I needed to go. Of course I had to pay close attention. That's a given and a must while driving on the road. But in our everyday walk with Jesus, we have to pay close attention and not be careless. Things that can hurt or cause us to detour on our road to God can come out of nowhere, but as long as we keep our "eyes on the road" (to Jesus), He will take care of all of that.
As I was praying that day while staying close to the line I could see, I had God's peace, even in the things I could not see. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see." Certain...think about what that means. I had more peace not being able to see what was in front of me, more than I have during those times where I've had complete visibility.
What about you? Are you having a difficult time trusting God in the fog? Listen, He sees the big picture. It's completely clear for Him. It doesn't need to be clear for you just yet. He knows. He sees. Trust Him...He will direct you. Just stay close to what little you can see and trust Him with the rest. Pay close attention. Don't fear. Be obedient.
I will always remember that foggy day where God was as clear as can be to me in the areas where I need to trust more. "God is not a God of confusion" (I Corin. 14:33). So just remember the next time you have confused thoughts, or you are lost in the fog, just choose to trust Him...even if He chooses not to turn that fogginess to clarity just yet.
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