Trust And Obey, For There’s No Other Way…

I may need to change the title of my blog to “That Trust May Abound”. God has seen fit to allow another trial for my family and myself. This one will have some major implications as well as the last one that I mentioned a few blogs back. Thankfully the Lord has been preparing me for this for a while now in so many ways that are becoming evident to me every day. I cannot stress enough the importance of a strong; Christ centered church family and how they minister to someone in need. I have experienced this first hand over the time that I have been at Oak Grove Baptist Church. All I can say is praise the Lord for his gracious ways and allowing me to be lead to this wonderful family.

My current trial is more in depth and requires me to once again place my total trust in the Lord. This is very hard for me to do, because I want to try and do all I can to work this one out. I do feel like I am just adding to the issue when I do try, so out of recently gained wisdom I have given control to the Lord. Actually I have realized I never had control in the first place and just acknowledged that fact. God is in control of everything. Period. If He weren’t, then and only then would I really need to worry. So I have gone to a deeper place of trust in the Lord, which is good. I know that He is in control and I know that what happens will be right for me. After all, I am His child. What Earthly parent would do something that wasn’t for the best of their child? So why would I think that the God of all would be trying to hurt me or punish me in some way? He’s not and I don’t blame Him for anything.

I know that my Father is in control. I may not understand why this is happening totally, but I can see (or I can speculate) as to why. I do trust in Him and in that I am obeying His Word, not because I feel that it is something I should be doing, but it is all I can do. I am perfectly content as to whatever direction the Lord has in store for me. There are 3 different outcomes and I am content with any He has chosen for me in His sovereignty. Through this I am also confident in knowledge that God will be glorified. He is being glorified already and He will continue to be glorified throughout this trial and beyond. God has shown more grace to me than I could ever have hoped for. Even on my worst day God is still gracious in not giving me what I deserve and instead gives me love, grace and forgiveness.

I am doing as Psalm 46:10 says – Being still and knowing that He is God. I am not pushing any issues, I am not trying to persuade anyone to do anything, I am only doing what I should be and trusting. Not that I have not realized some things I was doing wrong and made corrections, but I am trusting totally in Gods wisdom of the outcome of this. I will not waver from His Word and I will not compromise. Ephesians 6:10 says to be strong in the Lord… and I am. He is my strength and my refuge through it all and I praise Him for His goodness to me.

Some verses shared with me by a good friend have helped me, not with the situation itself, but in strengthening my relationship with the Lord. Please if you are going through a trial, take comfort in these verses as well. If you are not, then you may want to bookmark this page for future reference, because a trial is just around the corner. I will divulge in the future about this trial in its entirety, to show how God is working through it and what I have learned and gained from it. I will not speculate at the outcome or what I think may happen, but I will once again say God will be glorified.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful (anxiouse) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you.
Isaiah 43:1-4 But now thus says the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and he that formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you aret mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you. Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I give men for you, and people for your life.
Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 27:3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalms 138:3 In the day when I cried You answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.
Psalms 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me: You shall stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me.
Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Proverbs 16:1-3 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits. Commit your works unto the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

Internet At Home.... Finally.

Hi everyone. Thank you all once again for hanging in there and checking back periodically. Guess what. No, I'm not giving up the blog. I finally have the internet restored at my house. So the official count was 14 days without electricity, 25 days without the internet, 4 days without cell phone service and now our home phone has been out for about a week even after lasting through the whole ice storm and its immediate effects.

Just wanted to fill you in that I will definitely have a new blog posting up in the next day or 2. The Lord has seen fit to begin a new trial in my life that has really moved me into a further level of trusting in Him for everything. I thought I was, but this latest happening has shown me that I haven't been. I know the Lord is in control of my life, I am His child and I know that He is allowing this to show me a lot of things and I am learning so much through it. One thing is that He lead me to a wonderful church home with the greatest church family that have been wonderful through everything my family has been through recently. I know that if it wasn't for my family at Oak Grove Baptist Church that I would not be able to handle these tests. God brought me to where He knew I needed in order to draw strength and support from each and every person in the OGBC body. He was gracious enough to put me there before these things came about and I am so very thankful for God's goodness, which I in no way deserve.

The passage of scripture that really plays through my head these days is Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me. Especially with the content part - God supplies everything I need, He gives and He takes away - He is good and He loves me through it all - He doesn't give me what I deserve - He shows His grace and mercy to me daily - for I am His child and I am resting in His loving arms and it is good.

Ice Storms and Loss of Power

Broken Limbs - This is what every tree in Paducah looks like.

Hi all. Just a quick update on the ice sorm aftermath. it is Saturday Feb 7 and still without power at the house. I am sitting in the McCracken County library parking lot checking emails and posting this.

We are still on generator power at the house, which is getting kinda pricey after 12 days. It takes about 1/2 gallon of gas an hour, so it's about a dollar an hour to run, but hey it's wortj it to keep the famil warm and have a hot shower. I plan on writing a real blog post up soon and get that posted. Thanks to everyone for still checking back from time to time. Thank you all foryour prayers through this situation. It's a definitely an experience I will not soon forget. Waking up at 3:00 AM to put gas in a generator has a way of sticking in your mind. Especially when it's 12 degrees outside.

Take care everyone. I'll be back as soon as power and internet are restored at the homestead. In the mean time please check out www.realtruthmatters.com and all the free resources available through that God centered ministry.

Slip Slidin' Away

Hi everyone. I just wanted to let everyone know that my home is part of the mass power outages due to the ice storm that passed through our region last week. I currently still am without power or internet connection at my home and have limited access to email and some internet sites via my work computer. Usually the firewall blocks the blogger page, but it looks like today it isn't for some reason.

Please keep the people of my area in your prayers. Their safety and that power will be restored soon. It is a big inconvenience, but it also helps one to appreciate the Lord even more. God is good, during the good times in life and during the difficult times. I praised the Lord when the storm was occuring and I praised Him when I saw the large limb sticking through my bathroom ceiling caused by the ice. He is good and even at the lowest points in our lives we receive much more than we deserve.

As sinners we deserve the Gods wrath and judgment and instead He offers us forigiveness and love. What a wonderful Maker we have. To God be the glory FOREVER and EVER!