#Overwhelmed by Deborah Ard

OVERWHELMED! That is what I felt.  Completely overwhelmed! I was in the throes of completing my National Board Recertification on top of my normal life duties of wife, mother, active church member, and my job as a teacher. I felt like I was drowning.  I felt like there was no end in sight and that the tasks before me were impossible.

Because I felt so overwhelmed, I started praying for God’s strength and guidance. Then I texted several friends that are prayer warriors and explained my stress.  They all gave me loving and encouraging words.  One dear friend said, “Deep breath…breathe in Jesus and breathe out that stress!”  So I did.  And as I breathed in Jesus I poured out my stress to Him.  I told Him how much I had to do, as if He didn’t know.  I told Him it was impossible and He said yes it is impossible on your own.  I wondered why in the world did I sign up for this National Board process anyway and He told me to remember.  Remember how this journey began. And so I thought back to the beginning of my recertification process.

One day during the last day of January, I knew the time was growing near for me to register for the recertification process so I decided to check the website. When I opened the page I nearly fainted. The last day to sign up and pay the $1200 registration fee was January 31^st, less than a week away. My husband and I had planned on using some of our tax refund money for the fee.  But where in the world would I come up with that much money now. At that moment I was overwhelmed with worry. I immediately sent a text to a pastor friend who sent back, “God’s got this!” Her words of assurance comforted me and gave me peace. At that moment I knew that God would handle the details if this was His will.  Later that evening a friend sent a group text to myself and others inviting our families to have dinner at their house in a couple days. At that moment I shared with them my news of needing to come up with $1200 in a rush and asked them to pray for guidance. In a few short minutes one of those friends sent me a private message offering to let me borrow the funds until we received our tax refund. OVERWHELMED! That is what I felt. Completely overwhelmed! I knew right then that this text was an answer to prayer. And she shared with me that accepting the money was an answer to her prayer as she had prayed earlier in the week for an opportunity to use this money to help someone. What an awesome way God had answered both our prayers!

And so this is how I began my recertification process. Overwhelmed by God’s mighty provision.  Now I was overwhelmed by the circumstances of finishing the process along with being Mama, Wife, Church Member, and Teacher. As I breathed in Jesus, He reminded me of how He is always with me and how He always provides. He reminded me of a story in the Bible where His people were overwhelmed by circumstances. Please take a moment to read 2 Chronicles 20:1-27. In this story Jehoshaphat is facing an ominous battle and he receives word from God by way of Jahaziel in 2 Chronicles 20:15, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem!  This is what the Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”

The next day Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing and praise the Lord for His holiness. And the Lord did the rest. He defeated the enemy.  Jehoshaphat and his people were once overwhelmed by what they faced, but through their obedience, faith and trust, God defeated the opposition and His people were overwhelmed by His mighty actions and enduring love. That is what God wants for all of us. He wants us to turn over control to Him. He wants us to surrender to Him. He wants us to be overwhelmed, not by circumstances of life, but by Him. We are to be overwhelmed by His mighty love and goodness.

How about you? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you feeling as if you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel of your circumstances? God wants you to remember too.  Reflect and remember His faithfulness throughout your life. Remember how He is always with you. Remember how He always provides.  Stop holding on so desperately to control. Surrender to Him.  Have faith. Trust Him.  Reach out to Christian friends for support and encouragement.  And be overwhelmed by Him! His love endures forever!

P.S.  I did complete the work for my National Board Recertification and submitted it on time. And now I must be patient, have faith and trust as I await results in November

#Prayer #Breathe by Julie Wicker

Father,
As I enter into your Holy ground
I invite your Holy Spirit, you are welcome here
I take a few deep breathes, breathe you in and breathe out my stress
Yawyeh……Yawyeh…..Yawyeh
And I find rest
I touch the hem of your garment and I find healing
You invite me to your table and meet me at my brokenness
As I go about my day today
Go before me and lead the way
Walk beside me and be my friend
Fall behind me and cover me with your grace
As I fall short, I will seek your face and know that I am made for more
In the name of Jesus

Amen

#Worship

Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave

#Fragrantfruit By: Deborah Ard

In our last post we pondered God’s call for us to bear fruit, no matter where we are planted.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17: 7-8.

So what does it mean to bear fruit? Fruit can be sweet and fragrant. And fruit can be sour and rotten. What kind of fruit are you bearing?

Galatians 5:22 tells us “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

Yikes! One by itself may be manageable but ALL of them together…impossible. Yes impossible in our own strength. But not with His strength. We can learn to bear His fruit with His help. But how? By planting ourselves by His water and sending our roots out by the stream. We plant ourselves deep in His word by studying the Bible and spending time in prayer daily. We soak up His messages in weekly Worship. We allow His Holy Spirit to work in and through us. We surround ourselves by Godly examples that teach us. We do all that we can to “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” Colossians 3:2.  This is our daily goal. However, we are not perfect. We will make mistakes. We will fail. But through our mistakes and failures we can learn. Through it all, we can strive to be more like Christ.

So examine your fruit this week. Are you bearing fruit of the Spirit? Or are you bearing sour, rotten fruit? This week choose to plant yourself by His water and send your roots by His stream. This week allow His Holy Spirit to mold you into being more like Christ. This week bear fruit that is a sweet fragrant offering of Christ for others. 

#Prayer  #Radiate By: Julie Wicker

Father,

I come before you naked and exposed, nothing is hidden form you as you hold me accountable Heb 4:13. Thank you for pruning my withered branches. I am the vine and you are the vine grower. You remove from me every branch that does not bear fruit and every branch that bears fruit you prune to make more fruit. I have been cleansed by your word. You abide in me and I in you John 15: 1-7. I want to radiate fruits of your sweet spirit, exuding your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control Gal 5:22. As I set my mind on you oh lord Col 3:2, may my words and the Meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer Psalm 19:14. In the name of Jesus Amen

Quote: “You become like the people you spend the most time with. Choose wisely!” – Toby Mac

Worship with us “Live that way” by sideway prophets  https://youtu.be/GfosSggwQS0

 

#fruit

By: Deborah Ard

It’s spring time! Birds are chirping. The temperature is rising. Farmers are planting crops. This time of year the outside world is full of energy, excitement and growth. Meanwhile, I am on the inside, trudging along on my daily routines, longing to be outside among new life. Often times I muddle through the tasks at hand without focusing on the here and now because I am looking ahead at a future goal or focusing on getting through circumstances. Perhaps God has a message for me in my current circumstances.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

Whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water

That sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

Its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

WAIT A MINUTE!!!

Did that just say, “never fails to bear fruit?” Isn’t that the real purpose of our circumstances? We are called to bear fruit.

So even when I feel like an issue is unfair, I should bear fruit. Even when I feel like a situation is hopeless, I should bear fruit. Even when a person treats me unkind, I should bear fruit.

So what about you? Where has God planted you? Are you dealing with an unfair issue? Does your situation seem hopeless? Has someone treated you unfairly?

Trust in the Lord.

Do not fear when heat comes.

And never fail to bear fruit.

The real question is “What kind of fruit will you bear?”

#Prayer #Endurance

By: Julie Wicker

Father,

My worries, riches, and pleasures of this life are like thorny weeds keeping me from producing fruit. Help me to weed out my garden that I may hear your teachings and apply them Luke 8:14. Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure, affliction, and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance develops our maturity of character which will produce a joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or shames us for your love has been poured in our hearts by your Holy Spirit Rom 5:3-5. Blessed is the one who trusts in you, blessed is the one whose confidence is in you. As your children we are the blessed one, planted and rooted in your amazing love. When heat comes our way we will not fear, we will not worry, and in times of waiting we will efficaciously bear fruit Je 17: 7-8.

In the name of Jesus

Amen