Faith in Christ

As I was reading my Bible today, God really reminded me of somethings. I have been praying with our daughter Ryan about some uncertainties in her life, somethings that she knows she has heard God on. She has been staying strong, and staying focused, moving forward in what God wants her to do, but at the same time there is something missing, something that she knows she has heard God on and has been faithful in what He has told her to do, and faithful is waiting for his timing, and faithful in making sure that it is all God and not her. She has been a better woman than I would have been in her shoes. Well now she is once again asking God for clarity. It seems like she gets farther from His promise, instead of closer to the finish line. Have you ever been there? Boy I have. But I don't think that I have ever seen anyone that has been so obedient and not seen something manifest, especially for this long of time. I'm sure there are many stories of this, but this is my first. It is hard not to just say I missed God and give up the dream and the promise. So what do you do?

So I picked up by Bible today (my best friend) and asked God where do I read today? He took me to Colossians 1. I first read it in the NKJV then I went to the Message ( thanks Sam for the new Bible). I first read v.4 Your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the Love you continuously extend to all Christians. And my first thought was Ryan. She has stayed steady in her faith and is always showing love to other Christians. Both our girls have always been so good about loving and showing others God love. (Yes I'm bragging! I have earned that right!). Then as I read on V. 5 The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. Its the same all over the world. Yes.... God doesn't change. He is the same today, tomorrow as he was yesterday. It's people that change, not God. So now what Lord, this prayer does not just concern her, there are others involved. Others, that admit they don't wait to hear from God, they just make decisions. How do you fight that, how do you overcome fear and disobedience from others that effect your own life? Is there any hope?

ce Then, I found a prayer. v. 9-12 We haven't stop praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul -- not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Now I know how to pray, not only for her, but the others that are involved. They all need wisdom and understanding of God's ways. Strenght to stick it out, and strength to endure not only the hard times, but the good times.

V. 13-14 -- God rescued us from dead - end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. God is so faithful to rescue us from ourselves. Even when we keep repeating the same stupid mistakes. I see this in her situation. I pray that it changes.

V.17-18 He was there before any of it came into existence and hold it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and hold it together like a head does a body. Wow... what a reminder that Christ holds everything together, He has always been there and He will take care of things till they are finished. He will organize our whole life's if we will just let Him. But God, how do you get people to understand that they have to let You hold it together, and they have to let You organize their life's.

V. 18-20 From the beginning to the end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone... everything of God finds it proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe -- people and things, animals and atoms-- get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death. God puts us in the proper place at the proper time. He fits everything together in VIBRANT harmony!! Wow.. if we just listen, have faith, work our faith, and do as He says, He will put everything into place. But we mess up by walking out on our own, we make our own decisions.. then say they are Gods. Yes God does let us make our own choices... and we may think it is God at times when it isn't. We all need to look at the whole picture, sometimes things are simple and a given, without much thought or prayer... other things you have to sit back and look at the whole picture, how the puzzle pieces fit all together. How you got to where you are today and how the rest is falling into place. If you ever have to question it.... then it probably is not God. If you have fears, doubts, etc... anything negative is not God. Grow up!! God is right there trying to put the pieces together, but we wont let Him. When our stories keep changing... something is not right. When we hear from God, our story does not change, we change for God. When God speaks, our testimony's will be powerful and not will change our stories. We will know what we did and said every time we tell or speak of what God has done or is doing in our lives.

v. 22 You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message. We must stay grounded, in prayer, the Word, are faith and trust!! We must.

I don't know that Ryan has clarity yet or not. I know something needs to change for her. But after reading Colossians 1, I do know how to pray for all involved. I do know that God is faithful and He does not change His mind, or His ways. That we do. Sometimes we have to go back to the beginning, to see what and where we started from. God will get us out of our messes and if we will stay strong and faithful he will bring vibrant harmony into our lives.

Thank you Father for being the rock in my life! Thank you for reminding me who you are and that no matter what happens, you never change.. it is us that needs to change and look at you for your guidance and your ways. And pray for wisdom and strenght to get to the finish line.
Ryan if you ever read this, you have shown me what strenght is and what a Godly woman looks like. My hats off to you! May God show you want you need to see.. soon.