Better Recognize....

"all that a man has he will give for his life."  Job 2:4

There is a book called "Singing through the Night." True stories of women who live in countries of persecution. 

I loved reading the hearts of these women. One particular woman said something that will stick with me forever. She said that there was persecution in her land, and she saw it everyday. But she wouldn't trade her lot to be an American, because Satan has hidden himself so well in our society that we don't even recognize him.

In America, we don't even realize when we are being inundated with lies. We take persecution in stride.

And we wonder whether or not God really loves us, if he truly wants good for us. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and find  our pride in our own accomplishments, our material possessions, our reputation.

What do you have left when it's all gone? You're life? Are you willing to give even that up for the sake of his Kingdom? Are you ready to be a martyr?

I have been studying Esther for the past month and a half, and realized that Esther was in much the same place I am. Unworthy, pampered. Not willing to risk her life to follow the laws of God. But then, God changed her heart. Though frightened, she was willing to boldly go before the King in the face of her own immediate death.

"Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"  Job 2:10

I confess my cursing and my anger toward God when things are miserable down here, when I don't understand. I am not like Job. Submissive to the will of the Lord, fully aware that what is best for me is what ultimately brings glory to God.

Do you submit to God your very life for what's best for you? Do you have the faith of a martyr for the Lord?

What I Thought I Wanted

By Sara Groves		Back to Album Back to Lyrics Menu
Tuxedo in the closet, gold band in a box Two days from the altar she went and called the whole thing off What he thought he wanted, what he got instead Leaves him broken and grateful I passed understanding a long, long time ago And the simple home of systems and answers we all know What I thought I wanted, what I got instead Leaves me broken and somehow peaceful I keep wanting you to be fair But that’s not what you said I want certain answers to these prayers But that’s not what you said When I get to heaven I’m gonna go find Job I want to ask a few hard questions, I want to know what he knows About what it is he wanted and what he got instead How to be broken and faithful What I thought I wanted What I thought I wanted What I thought I wanted What I thought I wanted Staring in the water like Esops foolish dog I can’t help but reflect on what it was I almost lost What it was I wanted, what I got instead Leaves me broken and grateful I’m broken and grateful I want to be broken and grateful I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful I want to be broken, peaceful, faithful, grateful, grateful

Other Great Reads:
Jesus Freaks I and II
Voice of the Martyrs
The Poison of Ingratitude
Hello Mornings Suffering Well is Submission

Linking up with

Wonder Woman

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
(Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV)

When I have read this scripture before I kind of glaze over it thinking "Oh! Boy stuff!" But today as I read it, knowing hundreds of women with Hello Mornings we're reading it right along with me, I tried to imagine a woman putting on the belt of truth. And I came up with the image of wonder woman. Well then I got a little curious about wonder women. Where did she get her powers? What does she fight for?

Wonder Woman apparently was originally made of clay and was practiced in her strength and amazon qualities. She came to the United States to fight the war and crush evil. 

I'm cool with that. 

But now, O LORD, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8 ESV)


He has molded you as clay.


Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
(1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV)


Train yourself.  It's time to put on your Wonder Woman suit.

Just One Thing February Faith

 For the next 30 days my "One Thing" is to Carve out my morning schedule to spend time with the Lord.

I am tweeting in with my group at Hello Mornings. I'm working my way up to waking up at 5am *whoo!*

We are reading Job and you can link up with them on facebook too if you want. Check it out!

I'm also joining Ann Voskamp at "A Holy Experience" to memorize Romans 1, 8 and 12 over the year. I'm trying to catch up right now...I'm about 2 weeks behind...but it's only two verses a week. So it's not too bad.

Check Ann out here

God's changing me.

Facing the Impossible

by Chris Schroeder

There is a story in the Canterbury Tales about a king who takes a wife from a pig farm. She is so grateful to him, and so in love with him, she does everything he asks and serves all of his whims. When he takes their babies away from her he tells her that it is for the good of the kingdom, she agrees with him and lets him kill them. Eventually he takes everything away that he has given her and sends her back to the pig farm.
Years later the king is throwing a ball for the new queen he is about to marry. He commands that the pig farm girl come back to the castle to be one of the head servants at the ball. The pig farm girl complies and returns to the castle.
At the end of the story the king introduces the girl to the princess, and her brother, and announces that they are actually the pig farm girls children and that her dedication to the King has won her back her crown and back into the kingdom with her family.

When I think about Job, I think about this story, I think about me, I think about all of us.

When working through this tale, one of my high school students asked me what the girls deal was? Why did she put up with the King? I thought for a moment and said, "Yeah, the King seems to come off as a real jerk, but did he have the whole thing planned when he took the farm girl as his wife?"

She thought about it for a moment, "Well...I don't know. He had something planned when he took away her kids."

"Do you think he always loved her?"

"Yes."

"Who is changed by the end of the story? The king, or the farm girl?"

You see, the farm girl was always a good and faithful servant. The King was always the same man, but the heart of the farm girl; what she knew about herself, and what she knew about the King is what changed.

I struggle with this a lot. I feel as though God either strips things away from me, or asks me to give everything up once I feel like he has restored everything I once had.

I cannot say that I am a good and faithful servant. I cannot say that I don't grow angry with God and ask him why He does this to me. "If everything is in your control, and I am trying the best that I can to do what I need to do to pay my bills and get through my days here on earth, why does it have to be so hard and seem so impossible?"

I don't know what is impossible for you. Maybe it's impossible to pay your bills and feed all the little ones around you. Maybe it's impossible for you to get out of bed in the morning because your body is so wracked with pain. Maybe it's impossible to find a job or face terrible work conditions...Maybe you feel as though you cannot go on another minute, let alone another day...

As the Genie says in the movie The Return of Jafar "Don't worry Abu, he's a Genie, and Genies can't kill anyone....*cough* *cough* but you'd be surprised what you can live through."

Maybe like Job, the Lord favors you, and you are blessed, you have no troubles filling up your gratitude journal, or tithing with a peaceful heart. Maybe you go to work everyday looking forward to it because you have a good boss and you are paid fairly.

But in a fleeting moment, you can be struck down with sickness. A home can go up in flames, someone can swipe your debit card, or steal your identity. You can lose a loved one. Nothing is certain in this lifetime, but all things will come together for your good, the glory of the Lord.

The King gave, and took away. The Lord gives, and takes away. (Job 1:21 Paraphrased) Everything belongs to Him. And when  the things you hold dear begin to slip through your fingers, and the last thread of hope you have to hang on to is His promises.  Go to the banquet to serve at the table of the King. Hold tight good and faithful servant, your heart is being changed for your good and His glory.  If you do not find your reward in this life, you will find it in the next.

You have a job every morning that you wake up. Put your feet on the floor. Wash your face. And ask Him,  "How can I serve you today?" 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:33 ESV)