http://www.luannprater.com Luann's Blog en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.luannprater.com/nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.luannprater.com http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=724 (Find more ways to please God at the end of this post.)


It pleases God when we allow Him to make us new.

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (NIV)
 
It was Oswald Chambers, the author of My Utmost for His Highest who wrote, “God not only knows where we live, he knows the gutters into which we crawl!”
 
I’m sitting on my deck overlooking the lake.  A crisp gentle breeze kisses my nose and I need someone to pinch me.  How can I be in this place, with this life, resting in my God’s arms?  Rewind my life just a few years and you would not believe that I could be here, reading my Bible, praising my God.
 
In 1956 my dad, who had been a hopeless alcoholic, accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  His life was abruptly changed.  From that day forward he didn’t have a drop of liquor or smoke another cigarette.  It was a radical change.
 
So you would think his daughter, who was then raised in the church would just color inside the lines and walk the straight and narrow path, right?  Wrong.  I made horrible decisions in my youth which left me feeling worthless.  Those “feelings” then led to more unlovely decisions and soon I had to look up to see pond scum. Trying to lift myself up, then inevitably crashing, created a circle of defeat.  I was in the gutter. 
 
I knew about God, but didn’t know God.  I had heard the stories of my dad’s miraculous transition which often made me feel even more flawed.  What in the world was wrong with me?  Why couldn’t I just get it right?  For years it was my own effort, my own thoughts, my own decisions that traced the lines of brokenness in my life.  Sure there were temporary moments of simulated peace, but when failure arrived again, crawling into the gutter seemed only natural. 
 
Then I met Jesus and He shined a light on my soul and the shattered debris of a “me, mine and I” way of living.  I discovered that without making some changes, there really wasn’t any room for Him in there.  I stopped trying to imitate Christianity and began a journey to know my Savior.  Mine was a slower process than my dad’s.  When I faltered, my natural tendencies wanted to find the nearest trench, yet the new creation inside gave me wings to fly above it.  In the 16th chapter of John, Jesus tells us, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." John Darby’s synopsis of this verse says, “Nature is occupied with that which it loses. Faith looks at the future into which God leads.”   
 
God calls to each of us day-by-day, minute-by-minute.  He uses creation and circumstances and people we haven’t even met, to bring about His purposes, His plans and His hope.  Sometimes He works like an overnight sensation, but more often than not, He touches and changes us one predicament at a time.  Either way, we are guaranteed a gutter-free life when we seek His face.
 
Dear Lord, how insufficient we are at finding our true path in life.  We need You to navigate our steps.  Our own efforts at trying to be good are never good enough, we need You to take us by the hand today and lead us. Make in me Your new creation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Want to find more ways to please God? Join the devotional carnival going on today with me and some Proverbs 31 friends!

Click Here to visit my sweet friend Rachel Olsen, the carnival hostess!

Leave a comment and be entered to win an Encouragement Cafe latte coffee mug and t-shirt!


 ]]> In His Grip http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=724 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:03:35 -0500 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=722 "Will you prove to be an empty pod with no seed inside?"

Was the question Oswald Chambers asked today in My Utmost For His Highest.

I saw a violet crocus pop up in the yard yesterday! I've always compared myself to that little guy. It loves to burst out of the ground saying, "Good Morning Spring!"

I'm the Good Morning singer in my world. Ask anyone who has had the misfortune of rising with me or bumping into me first thing at work. I sing one of two songs:

(from Singing In the Rain)
"Good morning, Good morning, Hey it's great to be up late. Good morning, Good morning to you!"

Or the one that can spring from my lips any ol' time of day:

(Carol King's treasure - Beautiful)
"You've got to get up every morning, with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart. Then people gonna treat you better, you're gonna find, yes you will. That you're beautiful, as you feel."

Now, I must admit, that many days I don't feel beautiful. As a matter of fact some days I have moments where I can't feel anything at all!

The Truth is we are called to walk in obedience, in the Light we've been given each day whether we 'feel' like it or not.

Psalms 89:15 NIV
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.

The problem with the crocus is she often gets slammed with a surprise cold snap and BLAM! she's a goner! She may start strong but she seems to only be here for a minute then poof, she's gone.

The daffodils, however are slowly rising from the ground right now. Their stalks are sturdy and when they explode with color their beauty has staying power.

Lord, You have given me so many reasons to shine Your light onto others. Teach me to walk in Your light so I might burst forth with fruit that lasts like Your beautiful daffodils. In Jesus' name, amen.

(don't think I'm gonna stop singing)]]> In His Grip http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=722 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:18:09 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=720
Plunging into His Word has been a literal statement. My daily reading has always been My Utmost for His Highest since I got serious about walking with the Lord. Last summer my girlfriend introduced me to Sarah Young's book, Jesus Calling and it has become part of my daily diet.

In the fall my friends asked if I would do another online study, so we tackled Beth Moore's Esther. For the Encouragement EXTREME Event we wrote a 40 day devotional guide and it has bumped into the 40 day Bible study we are currently doing with my church.

As these scriptures and lessons have overlapped, the intersections have caused me to stop, look both ways and proceed with caution. It's funny how you can speed right through your alone time with God and rush onto to the next to-do on your list. But lately, I've let my foot off the gas because I don't want to miss a thing.

This past year God's Word, more than ever before in my life, has become a roadmap. Unfortunately, I have not always taken the most direct route. But here I stand today, with my feet camped out in Luke.

The church Bible study took us to Luke chapter 4 to dig into temptation. It pointed out that there are certain facts about it:

Temptation comes in our weaknesses.
Temptation can come when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Temptation can come when we are fulfilling God's will.
Satan knows where to tempt us.
The most powerful temptations are those that involve good things.

The main point is to shift your focus from the temptation or problem and zero in on the solution; getting in touch with God & His Word.

Our EXTREME devo expanded on the woman in chapter 8 of Luke who touched the hem of His garment for healing. Once healed, she could no longer go unnoticed. The question was asked, "Do people notice you because of your hurt or His healing?

We all have past hurts. The temptation is to linger there because we argue that maybe negative attention is better than none at all.

So those temptations are still within reach and they are easy to grab on to when the hurts come.

The intersection of these lessons made me stop, look both directions and pause. The folks behind me may be honking their horns screaming, 'get going grandma!' but I think I'll linger here a moment.

His healing touch is guiding me further and further away from temptation. Think I'll proceed with caution.
]]> In His Grip http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=720 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:00:47 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=717
"For the Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.' "

It was the second time within two verses that He used this phrase, stiff-necked. I remembered reading that term in Acts when Stephen was answering the Sanhedrin, but never really realized who came up with the term. It was God.

The first time, of the 19 times it is mentioned was in Exodus 32:9 and it's bookended in Acts with the stoning of Stephen.

So what does this term really mean? In Hebrew the word is 'qaseh' which means hard, harsh, difficult, stubborn, obstinate.

I had to stop right there and ask a tough question:

Does God ever use that term for me?

There have been times I have been soft and moldable in His hands, but many times I have stood hard and unbending. I think of a two-year old who folds their arms in defiance and says, "No!" But really it is more severe than that.

That two-year old can still be trained and taught. Their little life is still soft like a sponge, soaking up what is right and what is wrong.

We, however, have decided what we want to believe and what we don't. What we want to trust and what we don't. What we want to hear and what we don't. And quite frankly we stand rigid and stiff when God calls us to face something hard.

Am I stiff-necked? Even just a little? Am I stubborn at times? Am I hard or difficult or obstinate in any area of my life?

The consequences to being stiff-necked are unimaginable. God will leave us alone. He will let us stand firm all alone.

Once you've had the touch of His hand make an impression on your heart, you will never want to be without His fingerprints again!

Proverbs 29:1 NIV
A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.

Lord, soften my hard, obstinate ways to make me moldable in Your arms. In Jesus' name, amen.]]> In His Grip http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=717 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:18:08 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=714
Life is tough and relationships are hard!

i will admit, i stink at them! As wife, mom, child, friend, or coworker, i have missed the mark.

Some moments during a relationship seem flawless, but most don't.

Most of the time someone feels let down, ignored, hurt, forgotten, lonely, ____________ fill in the blank. And 9 times out of 10, it is that woman in the mirror who has dropped the ball....again.

Honestly, it's exhausting. And so my tendency is to retreat or run. The little recording in my head says, "Really? It's not enough? - Okee, dokee then, i'll just slip over here and disappear."

In the old days those times of disappearing would lead to disaster. These days i still retreat, it is just spent a little differently. i rise a little earlier and go to my spot. Mine is at the end of the couch next to the end table. i flip the footrest up and recline, then i reach for my favorite hiding place ~ God's Word.

i know, i know some of you are saying, "Oh, here she goes again. She is going to tell us how it will all be better if we just read His Word."

Trust me, that is NOT what i'm saying.

Your relationships may still stink. Your finances may still be in the red. Your job may still be gone. Life may still suck lemons! But here is the truth.

When i spend time in His Word, the focus shifts from Poor me to Powerful God. That shift is CRITICAL! It points my thoughts in the right direction.

Suddenly the little i that captured my mind turns to the big I AM.

Instead of seeing how much i've messed up, i see how much He has restored.

Instead of viewing my inadequacies, He highlights His Sufficiency.

Instead of reliving my failures, He plays back His victories.

Instead of feeling like i've let others down, He reveals that i never held them up.

Instead of falling apart, He holds me together.

It is the place where i find the Center. In the still quiet moments, no longer listening to the lies swirling in my head, but reading unchangeable Truth, Peace emerges.

i say emerges because it's been there all along. My little i has just blocked the flow.




]]> In His Grip http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=714 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:29:55 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=711
There is something so fulfilling about finishing something! What is something in your life that gave you a sense of accomplishment? What did you see through to the end?

Here we are enjoying this grand finale, when Beth says:

The Jews in the early first century did what most religious people do when they lack a fresh work of God. They turned to legalism.

Legalism - focusing on the rules ignoring the relationship

I love Beth's insight on this ~ without a FRESH WORK OF GOD in our lives, we will get stale, focusing on rules.

This study has opened my eyes to the very real truth that God is at work ALL THE TIME! He hasn't missed you. He sees what is going on! He knows how that job loss will impact you and those you love. He understands how being left by your spouse causes you to doubt yourself everyday. He heard your cry when you got the diagnosis.

Open your hands and let go of your grip on life. We hang on so tightly to what we know, what we think, what we understand that we think anything else must be a mistake! Maybe I didn't hear Him correctly.

Think about the constant twists and turns this story of Esther has taken? In the beginning, she was an unknown! The king and queen had the world by the tale. Then one by one the pieces began to shift. Did you notice that nothing, NOTHING happened immediately? NOTHING! There were days that were slammed packed with stuff, but Esther and her story didn't go from "orphan to ordained" overnight.

One of my favorite quotes from this study is this:

"Maybe God allows 'Hamans' to come along so we'll quit being so at home here."

Throughout this entire study, if you and I had been in charge of the story, we might have ended it before it even begun! We might have said, "Well, she is an orphan, but at least she has a nice home with her cousin. Why do we want to rock the boat and send her off to be in the middle of that harem? Or maybe we would have stopped when she got to be queen with "and they lived happily ever after." You can be sure, we would not have chosen any of the hard times that happened throughout this story!

We like the road of least resistance! We want things to be smooth and consistent and when they aren't we feel somehow that life is out of control. My friend, that is not the case at all.

God wants us to lose control knowing that He's got it. He wants us to be uncomfortable with ho-hum lives. He has much to accomplish and it can't be done sitting in our pajamas on the couch!

Let's remember what shape the Jews were in when the little orphan girl came on the scene. They had been carried into exile from Jerusalem years earlier. They had become so accustom to their surroundings that it didn't even seem foreign anymore. If felt familiar, comfy, even friendly.

Some might say they had 'made the best of a bad situation.' But God had bigger plans. Plans that could not possibly happen if everything remained the same. There had to be some scary moments, some tense times, some nail-biting times for God to move the circumstances so drastically that everything got turned upside down!

Maybe now you can see why He has allowed a Haman in your life. Do you think that your world turned upside down could be a good thing?

When the divine presence of the Holy Spirit resides in your temple, you can be sure that God has much bigger plans. At times you may feel lonely and forsaken, but open your grip; you are on a road from Orphan to Ordained!

I have so enjoyed this ride with you! My biggest take-away value from this study is to THINK BIG! We serve a big God who can do all things. He has never been limited by our inabilities! God's plans rock my world!

What have you savored most about the journey?]]> Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=711 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:45:21 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=708
My friend Carol said, "Luann, you have to stop wondering if your site is effective based on the comments. God uses your obedience."

And so today we crack open the Esther study and hear those words from Beth, "Life goes on, whether we want it to or not."

Have you ever wished you could just hit the pause button on life and really soak in a moment? There are a few I would like to hold on to, what about you?

Some of those classic moments like when my children or grandchildren said something so cute and priceless or maybe they just had that "look" - you know what I'm talking about, that little 3 year old face that cocked gently to the right with big eyes smiling up at you - yea, that one. And for a moment you said, "Wow, I hope I remember this forever."

Today we realize that God allowed this book of Esther to remain a staple in His scripture so we would REMEMBER that God remembers His people even when they forget about Him.

Beth points out, "Getting the credit is the wrong reason to do the right thing."

Esther and Mordecai really are not the heroes of this story. No, God is. He delivered them even though they had blended into the society and were really unrecognizable in the day-to-day happenings of their country.

I wonder if we could be accused of the same thing? Do we blend in with the scenery? Could someone spot us as a child of God? Not because we wear our dresses to the floor or our sleeves to the wrists, but because His light shines in us and through us in the everyday mundane things of life?

She challenged us to think today about holidays and why we celebrate them. The levitical feasts of the Old Testament versus holidays like Purim and Hanukah, might be this:

Some were prescribed by God to bless man;
Others were prescribed by man to bless God.

What holiday, feast or tradition do I celebrate that blesses God?

I loved hearing about Anne Rice, the former atheist novelist, who wrote:

"The mystery of the survival of the Jews....It was this mystery that drew me back to God. It set in motion the idea that there may in fact be God. And when that happened there grew in me for whatever reason an immense desire to return to the banquet table."

Has God revealed Himself to you? He has to me. When my chin starts to drag, He lifts it by showing Himself in a beautiful sunrise.



He shows Himself everyday, if we open our eyes to see Him.

My prayer is that just like Anne Rice described, an immense desire will grow in me and all who have wandered away, to return to the banquet table.

Are you one of His children? You can be. If you click these words, DO YOU KNOW HIM? you'll find your way to a personal relationship with Jesus.

How fitting that Beth pointed out today the 3-sided triangle that depicts divine providence in our lives.

I SUPPLIED FOR YOU - Ephesians 1:11 He works out everything
I WORK IN YOU - Philippians 2:13 According to His purpose
I WORK FOR YOUR GOOD - Romans 8:28 In all things, God works for our good

God moves heaven and earth and allows every move of your life, for your good.
Universally, personally and beneficially God is at work.

If you peeked into my life yesterday you may have had different emotions. You may think, what in the world is she doing speaking and writing for God! Or you may have wanted to pat my head and think to yourself, poor, poor soul.

It seems upside down.

No coincidences in life.

I'm sure Esther wondered at times, what in the world, Lord! But in the end, God turned their world upside down to give them the best.

I love My Story because it has God's fingerprints all over it, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Will you let Him touch yours?

]]> Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=708 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:06:42 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=705 Encouragement Cafe site! Check it out.

One friend asked what mine was and I guess if I could relive a moment in time it would be coming home to my mom's famous "wacky cake with Aunt Wilma's icing." More on this in a minute and I'll dig out the recipe and leave it for you tomorrow.

Ok, let's get into today's lesson from Beth Moore's study of Esther. Did you LOVE the story of the little girl with the missing hand? What an inspiration! She reminded us that:

Esther shows that ordinary events are never coincidental in the lives of God's people.

Turnarounds in your life - have you noticed them? Did you read Psalm 30:1-3 and 11-12?

This nugget jumped out:
We need to go out of our way to remember the wonderful works God has done in our own lives.

My day of celebration is December 6th. It will be forever burned in my memory as the day I made the decision to follow hard after Christ. I had known about Him my entire life, but had never really consulted Him for direction.


The 700 Club


Mom is in a nursing home now with Alzheimer's. But I remember when she made us wacky cake with Aunt Wilma's icing for our birthdays. We thought it was because it was so incredibly moist and special and from scratch. She told me when I was grown, it was because we couldn't afford a box mix.

Today, I will celebrate my parents who were not perfect, yet they opened the door to the One who turned my life around. What turnaround has God given you?

Mary Boswell, you are our winner from yesterday's giveaway. Mary, I challenge you and the ladies who are sharing this moment to remember your turnaround with a special celebration.

Don't be discouraged ladies, you may have won on our other site, Encouragement Cafe! ]]> Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=705 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:26:45 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=703 Proverbs 31 Carnival,with my sweet friend Suzie Eller, WELCOME!!

We are in the final throws here of Beth Moore's Esther study and "as God would have it" today is all about the PRESENTS!

So if you leave a comment you will be entered into a drawing for an Encouragement Cafe latte mug and t-shirt! And if you jump over to the Encouragement Cafe site and leave a comment you just might win again!

Today we are celebrating with the Jews who were allowed to defend themselves against certain destruction. The fought back and with the divine intervention of an Almighty God, they overcame amazing odds...and won!

Beth asked a fun question on this day:

What is your favorite menu for a celebration? I'd love to hear yours!

I must tell you the final page for today is the one that gripped my tears and yanked them out of my eyes.

When she described lot, portion and favor, basically saying, "The way your life has worked out. Amid the chaos and crisis, the threats and doubt, God caused my life to work out. Instead of falling apart, the lines of my life have fallen together!"

So the Jews took a day to rest after the fighting and celebrate.

I wonder how long it has been since you've taken a day to rest and celebrate with the One who fights for us, who 'works out' our life?

The tears for me fell when I read this:

Here you are, Beloved, Satan tried to destroy you along your life's path, but clearly, he didn't get his way. You're still standing, aren't you? Instead of falling apart, your lines are all starting to fall together. Piece by piece. Glimpse by glance.

So today, I celebrate life and I long to share it with you. Please leave your comment and maybe you'll receive our special gift; a latte mug and t-shirt from Encouragement Cafe. But even if you don't win that gift, I pray that God will shower you today with the knowledge that your life is 'falling together.'


Wendy Blight is giving away a copy of the One
Year Chronological Bible and her book Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The
Transforming Power of God's Story.

Shari Braendel is givng away 3
beautiful jewelry pieces to begin a spring wardrobe with! One for a Glamour
Girl, one for a Movie Star and one for a Rock Star!

Micca Campbell is giving away her book An
Untroubled Heart, and a cute clutch purse for those fun summer evenings!


Whitney Capps is giving away a $30
Francesca's Gift card, redeemable at www.francescascollections.com

Melanie Chitwood is giving away One
marriage conference call (see her blog for details) and her new book What a
Wife Needs from Her Husband.

Lynn Cowell is giving away a prize for mom and
a prize for a teen girl in her life - the 3 book series B.A.B.E. series by
Andrea Stephens (Beautiful, Accepted, Blessed, Eternally Significant) for
the teen and for Mom a $10 gift card to Starbucks along with Lynn's CD
"Building a Bridge to Your Child's Heart".


Karen Ehman is giving away a Winter White
Basket that includes Skin Milk body wash, a white loofah, Winter White
Citrus Bath & Body Works products, white lily linen and room sprays, white
hot cocoa, a white mug and white-chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Along with
it, a copy of her book on celebrations entitled Homespun Memories for the
Heart: More Than 200 Ideas to Make Unforgettable Moments.

Suzie Eller is giving away a webcam!

Zoe Elmore is giving away a journal, a
copy of My Heart's Cry by Anne Graham Lotz and a piece of jewelry Zoe style!

Charlene Kidd is giving away a
$20.00 Starbucks Gift Card and a copy of Karen Ehman's book: A Life That
Says Welcome, Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others.

Tracie Miles is giving away her CD
"Overcoming Stress with Extraordinary Faith" and a Soulmates Slipper with
Christian Notepad and Pen.

Rachel Olsen is giving away Bread for Life":
a hardback copy of The Daily Message: Through the Bible in One Year by
Eugene Peterson (which you can read this along with her this year) and the
Williams-Sonoma Muffins cookbook.

Wendy Pope is
giving away a copy of her book Out of the Mouths of Babes and her CD Yes,
No, and Maybe of a Balanced Life

Luann Prater &
www.EncouragementCafe.com are giving away an Encouragement Cafe mug and
t-shirt at both sites!


LeAnn Rice is giving away a copy of her
cookbook Sharing Grace: Recipes- Family Traditions-Gift ideas and a
Starbucks gift card.

Susanne Scheppmann is giving
away her Birds in My Mustard Tree Bible Study with an I-tunes gift card.

Renee Swope is giving away Lysa TerKeurst's
"Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl" 6 week DVD set and a copy of
Renee's message "Living Beyond the Shadow of Doubt" on DVD.

Lysa TerKeurst is giving away a Mom's Book
Club gift pack including 4 copies of Lysa's book, Am I Messing Up My Kids?
and a 30-minute Q&A conference call with Lysa.

Van Walton is giving away her DVD for
children - From the Pound to the Palace

Glynnis Whitwer is giving away her book
work@home: A Practical Guide for Woman Who Want to Work from Home and a
French Country Wire Silverware Basket


She Reads is giving away two novels, Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish and
Screen Play by Chris Coppernoll, and chocolate, courtesy of the authors.
They will tell the story of how their writing brought them together - a love
story, quite literally, fit for a novel!

RadRevolution Our ministry to teen girls is
giving away a copy of Do the Hard Thing along with a RadRev t-shirt!ur
]]> Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=703 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:09:55 -0600 http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=701 Rachel's blog, WELCOME!

We are in the 9th week of Beth Moore's - Esther study. Rachel asked us to write about ANY aspect of LOVE and today's lesson ties in perfectly!

"The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder." Esther 9:15

Now you may be wondering, what in the world have I stumbled on to here! How can putting 300 men to death have anything to do with love?

This entire Esther study has focused on watching God move in unexpected ways to save those He loves. He allowed tragedy, created opportunities, permitted injustice, offered hope, provided relief, empowered the unlikely, all to bring victory to His loved children. He is passionate about His children.

Have you ever searched for love and felt let down? Sometimes we may wonder if 'the good old days' held something better or easier. Finding love and happiness seemed effortless in the era of our parents, or grandparents or the movies about Pleasantville. Love can feel like jello in your fingers, the harder you grasp the more it slips away.

The word God is never mentioned in the book of Esther but His fingerprints are everywhere! The divine happenings that occur can only be explained by a God who had a plan.

So on this day of the study, the Jews were given the ability to defend themselves from slaughter, but they declined to take any of their enemies 'stuff,' even though they had an edict order that said they could. The reason? It was their opportunity to show God their love and respect for Him. They realized that they had been saved from certain annihilation and now they had the chance to honor God by living their love for Him.

Everyday God allows circumstances in our lives. We often look at them and wonder, "God, do you see me down here? Have you forgotten about me? Do you even hear my prayers? Why are you letting this happen?"

He sees you. He knows what is going on. Don't believe for a second that you have been abandoned. His love never fails. He has a plan for you. It doesn't look AT ALL like what you expected! He knew about the trouble you had coming long before you did. He warned us that Satan is never going to let us rest, so in this world we will have trouble.

But He also promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. God is love. He is the definition of the word we so loosely toss around. We use the term as a verb, "I love this ice cream," yet when you are His child, He moves heaven and earth and circumstances to show you He is love.

You have the right to plunder and take things into your own hands. Believe that God is at work in your life. You cannot possibly figure out His plan. It involves more than you can see. Instead of worry, try worship. Love Him back today. Give Him thanks for rescuing you even before you see how He is going to do it!

Watch God move in unexpected ways to save you. He may allow tragedy, create opportunities, permit injustice, offer hope, provide relief, empower the unlikely, all to bring victory to you, His loved child. He is passionate about His children


]]> Esther - It's Tough Being A Woman http://www.luannprater.comindex.php?itemid=701 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:30:32 -0600