Sunday, April 10, 2016

Where is God? Sunday Glimpses

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor


Oh Lord, I lift up my voice in praise to You for You alone are worthy of our praise. You are the One True God, Maker of heaven and earth. You are mighty, wonderful, faithful, merciful, and good. Your love astounds me. Your grace washes over me like a cool stream of refreshing water in a parched and weary land. 

And Your Presence comforts me when I am afraid or unsettled. Thank You Lord. Yes, Your Presence is my sure place in the storm.

I pray for those who are hurting today - for those who are discouraged and overwhelmed with anxiety. Life is hard, Lord. You know this well. But You also promised us that You would deliver us out of ALL our afflictions as we trust in You and take You at Your word. We choose to believe You, Lord. We choose a thankful heart in spite of our circumstances. 

Come, Lord. Come and inhabit the praises of Your people. Set us free to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Grant Your children the wings of eagles to rise above the storms and soar with You on heavenly heights. Thank You. Thank You for Your Word that sets us free - if we will only believe. 

We love You Lord. We magnify Your Name and rest in the beauty of Your holiness.

A Tweetable to Encourage Others
Where is God when I have no hope? @NanJonesAuthor offers a glimpse. (click to tweet)

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Please don't carry your burdens alone. Many prayer warriors read my blog and would be honored to pray with you, if you'd like to share your need. You may also contact me directly at nan@jubilantlight.com.

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Are you in need of a quiet place to rest your thoughts from this crazy world? Do you feel the need to be reminded of how faithful and merciful the Lord is? That's why I created my facebook page, Seeing Beyond the Veil. It's like an oasis in the desert filled with scripture, worship songs, inspirational quotes ... things that will remind you that you belong to an awesome God. I'd love for you to stop by for a visit. Seeing Beyond the Veil.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Finding God's Presence ~ The Battle Between Faith and Sight

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor


"And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers, and he said to his father, 'My head, my head!' So the father said to a servant, 'Carry him to his mother.' When the servant had taken the child and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died" (2 Kings 4:18-20).

The Shunammite woman.

Elisha.

A miracle son now dead.

This promised child - promised like Isaac to Sara, and Joseph to Rachel, and Samuel to Hanna - this child died. Unexpectedly. Without reason. Faith and sight began its wrestling match in the broken heart of a mother.

The Shunammite woman carried her son to the upper room she had prepared for Elisha when he passed through Shunem. She gently lay her son with his blanket of death upon the prophet's bed, shut the door and went out to find her husband. Desperation fought to strangle her, but determination of faith kept her sane. She asked her husband for a donkey and a young male servant that she "may run to the man of God and come back."

Upon saddling the donkey, the woman said to the servant, "Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you."

From the heights of Mount Carmel, Elisha recognized the woman. He sent his servant, Gehazi, to run and meet her because he sensed something was wrong. Following Elisha's instructions, the servant reached the woman and said, "Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?"

And she answered, "It is well."

Although in the darkest corners of her mind, she knew her child was dead, her answer remained, "It is well."

The servant helped her ascend the heights to Elisha. As soon as she saw the man of God she fell to his feet and grabbed hold of his ankles, perhaps clutching to her faith. Her desperation was winning the battle, yet her faith, just moments earlier had declared that all is well.

The Shunammite woman poured out her heart to Elisha, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?" Her frustration, fear, and disillusionment oozed out of the broken places as she pictured her beloved son lying dead back home. 

But her faith believed her son could and would live again.

As I read this story I thought about my dire circumstances. I thought about how many times I've run to the Lord, my robe of righteousness flapping about my ankles until I fell before Him, desperately clinging to His promises, desperately reaching for my faith that says, "It is well."

Like the Shulammite woman I've learned to say it is well because the Lord is who He says He is - my Redeemer, my Refuge, my Provider. In the midst of sorrow and fear and confusion and devastating loss - those things that will suffocate us when walking by sight - I can say, "It is well," because I know He is who He says He is.

And what about for you? Yes, you can say with me it is well because He is who He says He is to you - your Hope, your Peace, your God.

But that battle between faith and sight is real, isn't it?

When the Shulammite woman and Elisha arrived back at her home, Elisha went to the boy, praying, obeying, and effectively raising him from the dead. Elisha called for the woman to come and see for herself that the son she adored was alive.

Before the woman picked up her son, she fell at Elisha's feet and bowed to the ground in thanksgiving. The scripture doesn't tell us, but I can imagine this was a very emotional moment for her. 

The battle between faith and sight had been fierce. 

Faith had won.

But you know what else? In my heart of hearts I believe this woman could say, "It is well," no matter the outcome. When we come face to face with the Sovereign Lord, trust swells, faith deepens, and regardless of our circumstances we can say, "It is well."

A Tweetable to Encourage Others
Where is God when I can't see past the battle? @NanJonesAuthor offers a glimpse. (click to tweet)

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If God be for us, who can be against us? Riveting question, isn't it? My book, The Perils of a Pastor's Wife, will remind you of this truth and take you on a journey of healing from wounds inflicted in the lonely fires of ministry.

Available on Amazon




 

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Where is God? Sunday Glimpses

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor


Father, I've thought a lot about the comfort of Your Presence today. The fact that You are always with us is such a miracle. May I never take You for granted. I find solace when I rest in You. I find strength when I walk with You. I find courage when I sit still with You and remember that You are God. That's amazing Lord. 

My humanness wants to reject the thought that the Most High God walks with me everyday, but my faith knows that I know that You are faithful to allow me to live within Your love every moment of every day, surrounded and protected by You. Thank You Lord. Thank You for the gift and privilege of knowing this Truth.

I pray for those who feel abandoned by You. I pray for those whose light has dimmed and faith has waned because life is so hard at times and the battles are so fierce. I ask that You would open their eyes to see You, to know that You are near to the brokenhearted just like You promised. Open their ears to hear Your sweet whispers of love and comfort and reassurance. Touch them in a tangible way Lord - in a way that nothing else can explain except that You, the Lord, are with them through it all. Open their hearts to receive Your love and to take hold of Your promises once again. Thank You Father. 

Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your mercy, and Your grace that rains down upon Your children. We love You Lord, and we give You praise.

A Tweetable to Encourage Others
Where is God when life is hard? @NanJonesAuthor offers a glimpse. (click to tweet)

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Please don't carry your burdens alone. If you need prayer, feel free to share in the comments below so others can pray for you. Or, if you prefer, you may contact me directly at nan@jubilantlight.com

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Has life been coming at you hard? Do you want to step away from the chaos and focus on the Lord for just a few moments. I've created a facebook page for that purpose. Seeing Beyond the Veil will remind you of God's faithfulness through scripture, prayers, inspirational quotes and worship. I would love for you to visit Seeing Beyond the Veil. To join the community just "like" the page. Hope it will be a blessing to you.