For the third year in a row, our family will be walking to raise money for World-Wide Lighthouse Missions. The Walk-a-Thon will be held on Saturday May 16, 2015 at Charter Oak Park in Manchester, CT. It will start @ 10am. In the hopes to spread the word and get more donations, we have put together this Youtube video and we'd LOVE it if you would share it so we can spread the word about this great cause-helping the poor. What better way to get your kids involved in helping others and to have them see that they can be a part, that what they have to say matters and that they can make a difference as young as they may be, than letting them participate and speak for themselves. We'd love it if you could help: You can go to www.walk4wwlm.com for more information on the walk, donating, pledging a walker (Tammy Boisvert-that's me :) ) or more information on World-Wide Lighthouse Missions, Inc.
Thank you so much for considering the poor. God Bless You!
"God, bring me to a higher place in You? I want to do more for you, to grow closer to you. Let me fulfill all you have planned for my life." Have you ever prayed this prayer? I think most of us have. And we're heartfelt when we pray it. Then, not long after, we find ourselves in a raging storm, sometimes, facing a 'perfect storm' and we say-"Why God? What did I do wrong?"
It may well be God is answering your prayer...helping to bring you to that higher place in God. Think about it...How can we come to a higher place without first facing a battle? A soldier does not advance to a higher position without first proving himself -he has to be tried and victorious in battle first. It's not how many battles we face in our lives, it's how we handle them-how we get through them. Do we give up at the first sign of a struggle? No one said the life of a Christian would be an easy one, but God said He would be with us and we would not have to face the storms of this life alone-He'd help us make it through.
One thing I've learned is that God is deserving of our praise at all times. Whether we're in a storm or on the mountain top, it doesn't change who God is. He still died on the cross for you, saved your soul, he still healed your body, gave you peace of mind, mended your broken heart, restored your joy, gave you his Holy Spirit, washed you clean, gave you a hope of eternal salvation, and He's still your best friend, etc. That hasn't changed. But now, he wants to bring you to that new level in Him. What will you do? Will you let fear rob you of all that God has given to you, all He has in store for you? Don't give up, but hold on-throw your anchor down and stand. Stand in place and don't be moved. You may feel the winds, you may take on a little water, but you will not sink if you keep holding onto Jesus. Dig in deeper and hold on a little tighter. You can make it through the storm. Just spend a little more time praising Him, find more strength by reading His Word and in prayer. Just say "Jesus, I don't know what to do, I don't see how I'm going to make it through, but you do so I'm putting my trust in you, Lord. I'm trusting in you to keep me and bring me through." Just be obedient and stay faithful to Him and just watch what He will do in your life-He will bring you out victorious and you'll be on your way to that higher place! My friend, don't quit today, and don't look back, Keep moving forward!
"As a born again believer, there is nothing in this world that can stop you from accomplishing everything God has planned for you. The devil cannot stop you if you don't get weary in well-doing! The world can't stop you unless you quit going forward. Even when you feel like sitting down, if you will take some time in His presence today He will strengthen you with might by His Spirit."-Rev. Daniel Bossidy
At the grocery store this morning, I met a kind gentleman who made my day. He didn't do anything extraordinary but the small thing that he did just spoke right to my heart and encouraged me. He was a city bus driver just dropping in to get a quick bite to eat for the road. He looked familiar, perhaps I'd waited on him before during my cashiering days. I don't know. He looked down at my baby in his car seat in my cart and said "God Bless You" to him with a big smile on his face. Then, as I was leaving the store, he said it again and smiled. While in the parking lot, he drove by in his bus and waved with yet another big smile on his face. Nothing major, right? Don't we say the same thing to people?
Yet, his simple gesture ministered to my soul. There was just something about him, he seemed so genuine, almost like he knew me. I half wondered if he could've been an angel, perhaps. But, if he wasn't, he sure was in the right place at the right time. His simple words reminded me that God sees me right where I am, even in my everyday errands. I've had something on my mind for a very long time, a battle that I'm fighting. Sometimes, you do start to wonder if God really does see you in your situation. Of course He does, we all know that, right? But, this kind of brought it right home to me. God knew I needed a little bit of face-to-face encouragement so He sent this man my way, whoever he was.
God is going to bring me through. I may not know how or when, but He's going to do it, I can put my trust in Him. When you've done all you can-stand. Stand in your faith and keep on believing. Don't look at the storm or situation that has clouded your life, but look to Jesus-He is our answer. Keep focused on Him. And while you're waiting-keep running the race. He will always make a way, right in the nick of time. In HIS time. Don't quit! Don't let this storm cloud steer you off course. Don't let the enemy rob you of your victory-you are SO close! Keep focused on the goal. Keep on praising Him and putting your hand to the work. Give your situation to Him, just lay it at His feet and know that He is working behind the scenes, He is preparing the way. Though you may not see it with your eyes, He IS working. If it's your desire to serve God, just dig into God's word and prayer and He'll give you strength to keep on going and a peace right in the midst of it all. Just rest in Him. He'll carry you through. And when all is said and done, He will be glorified through it. You'll have a testimony to share with someone else and maybe they'll look to Christ for their help, too. Just keep holding onto his hand and never let go-hold on tight. Even if you have to close your eyes, keep holding on tight because He WILL bring you through to the other side, to victory! God Bless YOU today.
Have you ever felt like you're doing everything you know to do but still the answer doesn't come? Well, we've been having some great bible studies in church that deal with exactly that very thing. Did you know that Abraham had to wait 29 years before God's promise to grant him a son from Sarah came to pass? 29 years! Abraham was 70 years old when God promised him a son, and Sarah did not bear Isaac until he was 99! The older this couple got, the more impossible it seemed that this promise would ever be fulfilled, right? I mean, a woman conceiving a child at that age? Do you ever think he doubted? He was human, wasn't he? In our own lives, we hear a word from God and hold onto faith that our promise is on its way. Sometimes our answer comes quickly, but sometimes we have to wait, and wait...and wait and our faith gets tested as well. Does that mean God didn't hear our prayers because our answer is longer in coming? No. God has a perfect time for everything. He is working behind the scenes to fulfill His promise. Is faith based on what we see or in what we believe? Sometimes we feel inadequate, and our faith stumbles, but we get up again. Sometimes we try to "help" God along and conjure up a way to bring the answer to pass ourselves, but it's not what God had planned. Many times, the situation can start to look even gets worse and looks even MORE impossible to our natural eyes. But I tell you our God is a God of miracles. He can do the impossible! The glory will go to God when your answer comes to pass, because it was impossible to man. (Rom. 4:17-21)"(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father or many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
So, what did he do while he waited? He obeyed God, he gave honor and praise to God and he trusted in the Lord. As was said by one minister recently, "You can fear, wonder how, if and when, or you can LIVE in the promise and have yourself a little dance and say 'I will NOT have a funeral over this. Laugh and say God is going to have the last laugh over this. You can give up or your can encourage yourself and run to God's promise. When the appointed time comes, God will come looking for you.
Sometimes, we try to fix things ourselves, instead of waiting for God to do it his way. We usually get into more trouble this way, don't we. We try to "hurry things along", but we don't realize that God was already working behind the scenes-already working things out for you. "Great joy will come when it is fulfilled, though it make 29 years" (or longer for some). "Though it looks impossible, though the vision tarry-wait for it. Though it may seem God has forgotten, His promise is still good-keep your faith, fight for your faith. God will make a path through the waters for you if you look not to the right or to the left."
So, I want to encourage you today to hold onto your faith-keep trusting in God. What he said he'd do, he WILL bring it to pass. Whatever you're believing God for today, whether it be for a loved one to be saved, for a financial need, for God to have you work for Him, whatever you're believing God for-don't give up. Praise Him while you're waiting-Victory comes through praise, right? Work for God while you're waiting..Faith takes action, right? So, be obedient to His word, serve Him with all your heart. Hold onto your faith and keep moving forward. Don't give up. He WILL bring it to pass.
I am just so thankful today for all God has done for me and all He's doing in my life. On the outside, it may not seem like a lot, but on the inside, He's working on me. He works on us everyday to make us more and more like Him. It's amazing how much He loves us and has so much patience and extends so much grace to us, isn't it. When I think about the children of Israel and how much He loved them and provided for them, yet they kept letting Him down by not trusting in Him over and over again. Yet, He never stopped loving them, did He....talk about longsuffering. He loves us so much and wants so much for us and He's told us that His word will guide us and teach us His ways, but He will not go against our will. We have to submit to His will, not our own. We think we know what is best for our lives, when in reality we really don't. It's when we totally surrender to doing whatever He wants, whether we understand the why of it or not, that's when God will move. He wants our hearts to be totally in love with Him, to trust Him with our whole lives. We may not know or understand the reasons why things happen sometimes, but if we trust in Him and put our lives in His capable hands, He will always do what's best for us and one day we will understand that He really did know what He was doing. It's when we try to take over ourselves and do things our way that we always get in trouble, isn't it-when we get stubborn and think we know best.
I'm so grateful for His grace and mercy that He's extended to me. Like a good parent, he shows us what to do, but the choice is up to us to obey. He watches and waits, hoping we'll make the right decisions...sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. And when we don't and we come to Him and admit we've lost our way, He's always there to take us in His arms and love us and show us what to do. Where would we be without the grace and mercy He's shown to each and every one of us. Like the song says, "Where would I be, you only know..So glad you see through eyes of love...a hopeless case, an empty place if not for grace."
This morning, this song is my prayer...This is really the heart's desire of every Christian, isn't it? If you're having trouble or going through a situation today, I pray you'll make this your song-This is all that really matters in the end. Not how materially successful you are or what position you hold in life, all that really matters is our relationship with God. I want to be a help to someone else, to show them how much God loves them as everyday I'm learning more of the depths of His love for us and to just let Him use me somehow, however He sees fit to let others see that too. God Bless you today.
I'm so amazed today of God's faithfulness. He always comes right on time with a word, with help, with your answer. He knows just how much you can handle and He always calms the storm just in time. So, have faith in God today. Be encouraged, stand fast. Keep running the race no matter what comes to hinder you. Find your strength, your shelter in Him. He'll always come right when you need Him.We serve an awesome God today, don't we. If you're facing a storm and you think it'll bring your end-stay strong. Go to that hiding place and find shelter and strength in Him. Find your rest in Him. He will deliver you. Right on time. Just wait and see. What a glorious day that will be.
Yup, one of those times again...Something great happens, you're on cloud nine in celebrating God's awesome faithfulness to you and then...bam, something just hits you from out of nowhere and you find yourself struggling to believe, condemning yourself for your hypocrisy? C'mon, I know I'm not the only one. But isn't that the way it works, sometimes. You make a decision, step out on faith, do something for God, determined to go forward and let God use you and BAM...Satan comes to knock you back. Of course, isn't that like the enemy. He's got you saying, "how can you even call yourself a christian, you messed up again, what a poor example you are because you fell into the enemy's trap again. You'll never do anything for God, you can't even overcome your own weakness." Maybe it's anger, maybe it's lust, maybe it's pride, maybe it's impatience, everyone has their own private battles, their own Achille's heel that they're working to overcome and the devil knows just where to strike his arrow at us, doesn't he. BUT, let me tell you that we still serve an awesome, mighty God. Yes, the enemy may come to hinder you and your armor may get nicked a little, but he will NOT get through to harm you if you remember who you are in God! Don't dwell in the self-condemnation that the devil throws on you. Remember who you are! You're a child of the King. Yes, the enemy may rear his ugly head and try to frighten you by his display of power, but let me tell you something...our God is GREATER! Our God is awesome and mightier than anything the enemy tries to throw at you-any temptation, any doubt, any fear...Our God is Greater! Put your christian music on, dig out your Bible, just start praising Him and glorifying His name. Read about His many promises to His children and know that you ARE a child of God if you've dedicated your life to Him. You're not perfect, no one is, we're all striving for perfection, we're not there yet. He's the potter and He's still exposing the air bubbles in our vessel, purging us of our impurities so that we can be a beautiful vessel that He can use. Isn't that what we all want? So, just start praising God and you'll soon be encouraged and strengthened and you'll see that obstacle for what it really is, an attack of the devil to try to take you out! To take you down. Are you going to let Him? NO! Throw the word of God in his face. "No weapon that's formed against you shall prosper." "I've never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging for bread." " God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Find your own promise scripture and claim it. Remind the devil who's child you are and that he's not going to win. He's not going to be able to touch you or your family, try as he may. Angels are guarding you, you've got God fighting for you. "If God be for us, who can be against us." Put him in his place...under your feet and then STOMP on him!!!! What a difference you will feel and you can go on praising God, knowing He is going to guide your path. Trust HIM. Don't give in to what you see going on around you or what it looks like. Trust God to see you through and He will. He's an amazing God. Start thinking about all the great things He's done for you...all the times He's answered your prayers when you thought there was no hope. He WILL do it again. You don't have to know how or when He'll do it...just trust Him. He is a miracle-working God. You are an overcomer in Jesus. Stir up your faith. This world may be heading down the wrong path, but don't you give in to your fears. Be like Noah...even if you are the only person left, you stand. Know what you know and don't let anything take you off course. Go to church, worship God and let the word of God strengthen and encourage you. He'll show you the way and He'll never let you down. He loves you so much. Sometimes we just need to trust in Him, no matter what and remember that God is in control. So, Keep on fighting because we WIN!
