Praising God through the Storm

In The Stable With Mary by K-LOVE Radio


I understand Christmas has passed, but a wonderful poem... really gives the view of Mary...and a story of a Christmas where things didn't go as planned... there was no room in the inns , it was cold, dark, but Mary still praised God.



Okay, so Wes and I are back from Ottawa where we went to spend Christmas this year.  It was our first Christmas as a married couple.  It was a wonderful visit, but we definately had to learn to trust God and praise him even through some not so wonderful times.

After getting to Ottawa, we went to see family on Christmas Eve.  The next day, (Christmas), we went to church.  Afterwards, we got into the laneway of my aunt and uncles and our car broke down.  We tried to boast the battery, but no luck.  We couldn't figure out what it was... so we left it for afterwards as everything was closed anyway.  The next day, we spent over half of our day waiting for a tow truck... not the most wonderful thing to do on a holiday, but we got reading done, and we were in a warm house, so praise God.

Finally, the tow truck came, it was our battery but we found out you cannot boast a battery with a smaller car than yours.  So we went out and bought a battery.  That night, we left to go home.  After 2 hours of driving (it was midnight), our car started to heat up, and not to long after, steam filled our hood. Unfortunately, there are not many stops in the middle of no where.  After waiting for the engine to cool off, we drove, only to get 5 meters before overheating again.  So after some stop and go, we finally made it to an exit, which thankfully had a hotel and a canadian tire across the street.

We spent the night at a hotel, and then spent the next day waiting at the mechanics (5 hours to be exact)... only to spend too much money on our truck...

So why do I say all this?  Though our Christmas was filled with some ups and downs, we had a wonderful visit to a new city, we got a beautiful night at a wonderful hotel, and we were lucky enough to make it to an exit within an hour of breaking down.


It was defiantely a weekend full of praising God, through anything that happens.

One man who praised God through everything was Job, God tested his faith.. yet he still praised God through everything that happened.   Though our "trials" this weekend were much smaller, we had to make the effort to praise God through everything.



So, I hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas, and even if God sent some trials your way... there is always a reason, and don't forget to praise him through anything.... and who knows, maybe our first Christmas story will be one for the grandchildren in the future ;)

Encouragement Goes a Long Way

This past week, I had one of those days where I just felt useless.   We have all had them.  We start comparing out outward appearance, the things we are doing and anything else we can to those in magazines, etc.   I basically had no idea how God was using me and how he planned to use somebody like me.  

The next day, I woke up to a lovely message from an old friend.  It was such an encouragement, and seriously made my day so much better.  I went from such a low to such a high.

God tells us that encouraging each other is a great way to go, and it builds each other up.


1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


I often find in the busyness of my own life, I forget to encourage others.  And not just saying they have nice hair (though there is nothing wrong with this), but real honest encouragement, showing them that you are taking the time to let them know that they are loved and appreciated.  


So as we go into the crazyness of the Christmas season, let's not forget to give encouraging words to others.  To the friend who encouraged me the other day-- thank you, you are truly an amazing woman of God.  

Pray for THEM?!

Prayer is a vital part in a Christian’s walk with God.  Often it is through prayer that we are able to see God’s miracles.  If you don’t see your prayer making a difference, one thing I have found useful is to journal the things you are praying for.  Every person, situation and request write down.  Each year or so, come back and read the journal and then try to say that God doesn’t listen to prayer. 

Now, this past year I have found that I have been praying for others around me, people I meet on the bus, school and work more easily than before.  But there is one request God makes of our prayers that I have struggled with:

Matthew 5:44    But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

I hear this but often my heart is more in this condition:

Have you ever been hurt so badly by somebody, that the thought of praying for them, after what they have done to you is just... hard.  Jesus showed us a wonderful example of praying for others... after being beaten, mocked, despised and hung on a cross.... did Jesus pray to God saying “Give them what they deserve”?  Absolutely not, in fact Jesus said “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.  FORGIVE THEM!?   Now I don’t know about you, but if I was in that position I would not be in the forgiving mood.  That’s the wonderful thing about Jesus’ love, he loves us unconditionally and prays for us.  Just the thought of the King of the world praying for me is wonderful. 

Now praying for your enemies and those who hurt you is hard... I get it.  But often when we pray for enemies God can use the prayer to change us as well.  Through prayer, we can often gain a new perspective of the person we are praying for.  As we continue to pray for our enemies, it becomes easier to forgive as well.  The fact that you are praying not only for the things you want, your friends and family, but others... it just allows God to work all the more through your life and prayer. 

So just my thought of the day...   when we pray, are we praying with a heart that Jesus had?  Praying for EVERYONE, even those who hurt us?

Modern Idols

Idolatry.  This is something I think everybody has struggled with, sometimes not even realizing we are struggling with this.  Often when we think of idols, we put it off as those gold statues that people worshipped.  But God had a much different view on what an idol is.  In fact, he says:

Exodus 20:3-4

You shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

Since August, Wes and I have been living without things we would have called “necessities” before.  To save some money we decided that we did not truly need cable or internet (except that at the local library or school).  At first, it was hard as so often after a hard day of work we would want to sit and watch a TV show.  But now, I’m quite glad we decided against it.  Why?  It has helped me realize that that stuff is all just earthly possessions and won’t last long, and allowed me to grow closer to God in many regards.

That being said... I still struggle with putting things before God.  For me, school and work are often put before God.  Don’t get me wrong, it is okay to work hard, but often I find myself skipping out on my time with God because I have a test the next day, or taking extra shifts at work when I should be at church.  You know that saying that “time is money”?   Well, in a way it is like I tend to take this “money” and put it into stuff that is not as important and won’t help further the Kingdom of God.    

Christmas may actually be the worst time for this idea of putting other idols before God.  Christmas morning after we open our gifts and have our turkey, often we go and play with our new toys. We often forget why we celebrate Christmas and put the family, presents and food before the celebration of Jesus.  

Idols can come in many forms, school, work, beauty (how often do we put more time into getting ready for the day physically then we do spiritually?), materialistic things, money.... the list goes on and on.  Yes, we may not bow to idols made of gold, but are we bowing down to anything other than God?  Just a thought...   

Worry Free

If anybody knows me.... they know I can tend to worry about silly things (perhaps Wes the best of them all).  I tend to take something small and think about the worst-case scenario.  This past week, my mind has been going crazy putting together these worst-case scenarios. 

Now, that being said if you asked my family, they would say I care too little.... It’s not that I care too little... it’s that I often find myself having to pause and take things a day at a time. 

So does God have anything to say about worrying?  He sure does (and this is only to begin with... there are many other things)

1.       God loves us... he will provide.

Being a student and young wife, I often worry about finances among many other things.  I forget that the things on earth are temporary, and what really matters.  In late August, Wes and I had a lease that was going to expire and no place to live.  With only three days before our move-out day, God blessed us with an apartment that allowed not only a roof over our heads but a good commute time for each of us, so we actually have been able to see each other more during the week. 

Matthew 6:27-29
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (NLT)

2.      Worrying does not help anything. 

How often do I make these silly stories up, and not only stress myself out... but stress out those around me.  I have learned that just because I get one bad mark on a test... this does not mean I will fail the class, have to drop out of school and in the end, not finish my teaching and math degree.  Who knew?!

Poor Wes often needs to remind me and just tell me to stop, go to sleep and start the next day fresh and new. 

Now on the other hand, if you know somebody who you can see is worried and stress, give them an encouraging word, let them know that each day is new and we need to trust God.

Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (NLT)

3.      We need to trust God

Often, God sends trials in our life.  In many cases these trials are the foundation of our worry and stress.  If God knows the plans he has for you, and he has promised that they are plans to prosper rather than harm you, why do we still worry? 

If God does decide to put you through one of these trials, 1 Corinthians promises us that he will provide a way out.  We just need to trust him and his plan (even if we have no idea where it is going). 

Matthew 6:30
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (NLT)

Now God has so much more to say about this subject, but as we go into the Christmas season... although it can be stressful (have you been to the malls lately?!?), remember his promises and give your worries to the Lord. 

1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)

Why Jesus ?

Okay, this is just an interesting thought... Why Jesus?  Here are some replies from some Christian artists... I will be posting mine soon--- I would love to get views from others-- if you have time, make your own video or comment to the question   Why Jesus?

The Motions

Here’s my little product insert of the day.  K-Love Radio—a great and encouraging radio to get you through the day. 

So why do I mention this?  I find myself listening to this radio station often... and every now and again I hear a song that really just gets to me.  Today I was listening when “The Motions”-by Matthew West came on.  Part of the lyrics read:

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

You know when a song basically just sums up what you have gone through?  This one does it for me. 

A little bit of my background:

I grew up in a wonderful Christian home (and for that I am truly blessed).  I went to Awana clubs, Sunday School, basically you name it I was there.  When I was 4 years old, I accepted Christ into my life through the help of my older sister.  Now I was young, but I was a little missionary and brought friends to church and was not ashamed of what I believed at all. 

When I was in 5^th Grade, God decided to put my faith to a test.  He sent trial after trial, and unfortunately I seemed to fail the test.  I just couldn’t understand why this was all happening to me.  So I decided if God couldn’t keep my life in line, I would do it myself.  

Now here is where the song comes into play.  I continued to go through all the motions (I mean I was the “Christian girl” at school... I had to keep that up right).  But my heart was not in the right place at all.  

In Summer 2004, I was at camp when something just hit me... I couldn’t do this myself.  I needed God’s love to set me on fire again and I needed to give God control, rather than just going through the motions.  

Once I gave God control of my life once again, I couldn’t believe the peace that overwhelmed me.  Even when I wasn’t sure about things I believed God when he said, “I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer.  29:11)”.  

Four years later, God decided to do another time of testing in my life (I find in my life... when it rains it pours).  This time, rather than turning away from him, I let God have control (even though I could not see anything good coming out of this).  

Don’t get me wrong... I still have days where I just cannot see where God is going with stuff... but looking back on past experiences I have seen pieces of his plan for me... and let me tell you—he does a much better job with my life than I could ever do.  

One other thing that jumps out at me from this song...  it says that “this might hurt”.  God never said that when you accept him into your life, he makes everything better and you never hurt again.  In fact... we are warned that we will put through trials and persecution... but Jesus was put through death... 

Just a thought..  if you are reading this and maybe going through trials all I can say is learn from my mistakes... stick with God—don’t just act like the “Christian girl” as I did, really live it out... our life is short on earth, make it count.