As I pulled the weeds away from the beautiful rose bush’s base, I noticed the root ball had four sections. I wondered if I should leave them together or divide and place each section at different posts across the fence…
Just like the uprooting of my rose bush, some of my life’s leaves wilted, petals fell to the ground and a few of my branches produced more thorns than blossoms – at least for a while. God was pruning my ministry and my life, teaching me how to surrender my plans for His.
It was hard. But God was doing a new thing and allowing me to perceive it. (Is.43:19) That was five years ago and I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if He had not uprooted me and planted me in a new place, with new dreams.
It’s easy to doubt God, ourselves and our futures when our lives feel uprooted and our dreams fall apart. For years, I had allowed pain in my past to hinder me from trusting God with my future. I allowed insecurities and fears to keep me from living in the assurance of His promises and the confidence of His love.
The only way I could surrender my former soil was to get rooted in God’s love. So I spent time with Jesus. He was all I had. Each time I wanted to cry or run, I took the broken pieces of my heart and my will and gave them to Him. I was honest with Him about how I felt. How disappointed I was. How mad I was. How hurt I was. How scared I was.
Each day I would ask Him to show me how to process my pain or my questions through His truth. How to rely on Him. How to embrace what He was doing so that I would become more like Him. I remember reading, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. “(Philippians 2:5-7)
As I asked Him to help me understand, I began to see How God could reveal more of Himself through me as I depended more on Him. Eventually those around me would enjoy the new blossoms that were produced through my surrender..
I read through the book of John, journaling each time I noticed Jesus laying down His comforts, His familiar places and people, His rights, His life – to bring glory to His Father. And each time I would let go a little more.
It taught me absolute dependence on God like I had never known and changed me from the inside out. I came to new place of trusting Him and experiencing His glory in my life and in my family. Even now we are living out the lesson of the rose bush as we make room for a new “planting of the Lord” in our lives. I invite you to read through my posts last week and see our little crown of beauty: a display of His glory revealed through a little girl who’s becoming part of our story!
What is God asking you to surrender? I’d love to know so I can pray for you! And if you’d like a chance to win a copy of my “Beyond the Shadow of Doubt” message on DVD, be sure to click on the word “comments” just below my name, then type in the white box. If you don’t have a blog, just click anonymous. It’d be fun to know your first name, age and city (& email address so I can let you know if you win)!
Letting go of the past and trusting God to use who I am right now is a hard thing to do. It is so easy to let the past cripple me instead of allow me to become closer to God.
For the drawing I am Brenda, 39 years old; live in New Market, AL; and my email address is [email protected].
So much of what you share encourages me to press on as I see that I am not alone in my struggles.
Congratulations on your baby!
Renee, Thank you for your precious words on surrender. I am struggling greatly right now. I amm a Christian school teacher in a public school. A mission field I have been called to and served in for 25 years. This year my world has been turned upside down. My building closed, my Christian principal retired, my best friend moved to a different school, and I have been reassigned to teach science as well as social studies. I have always found it so easy to witness to my kids through history and people I am wary of the issues surrounding teaching science in a public school. I had prayed and prayed for a different position – one that was perfect for me. God shut the doors repeatedly on that idea even though the temptation of seeing what I thought was the perfect solution continued to be set in front of me. Now it's early morning on the last weekend before school starts. For the 26th time I have the preschool jitters and can't sleep. I am trying so hard to convince my head what my heart knows. My heart knows that God has plans to prosper me. My heart knows that I have been placed where I am for such a time as this. My heart knows that my life is God's to do with as he pleases. BUT … My head can't wrap around it. My head is angry and hurt and bitter. My head wants to let the hurtful voices flow instead of the voices of comfort and confidence. Please pray for me that God will guard my toungue and my thoughts. And that I can take on the attitude of Christ. It feels like too tall an order right now.
Shelley
Renee, Thank you for your precious words on surrender. I am struggling greatly right now. I amm a Christian school teacher in a public school. A mission field I have been called to and served in for 25 years. This year my world has been turned upside down. My building closed, my Christian principal retired, my best friend moved to a different school, and I have been reassigned to teach science as well as social studies. I have always found it so easy to witness to my kids through history and people I am wary of the issues surrounding teaching science in a public school. I had prayed and prayed for a different position – one that was perfect for me. God shut the doors repeatedly on that idea even though the temptation of seeing what I thought was the perfect solution continued to be set in front of me. Now it's early morning on the last weekend before school starts. For the 26th time I have the preschool jitters and can't sleep. I am trying so hard to convince my head what my heart knows. My heart knows that God has plans to prosper me. My heart knows that I have been placed where I am for such a time as this. My heart knows that my life is God's to do with as he pleases. BUT … My head can't wrap around it. My head is angry and hurt and bitter. My head wants to let the hurtful voices flow instead of the voices of comfort and confidence. Please pray for me that God will guard my toungue and my thoughts. And that I can take on the attitude of Christ. It feels like too tall an order right now.
Shelley
Hi Renee,
Todays devotion was so touching to me. I am going through a change, and I faced a disappointment last night and I too have to carry on my ministry with-out two very strong women who have supported me through the beginning. I am scared. I even woke this morning thinking…I don't want to go tonight? My Husband and I have a Christian band, and our church has been a great support and tonight our 2 greatest cheer leaders can't come, nor anyone else…to far to travel. I know God is preparing me for the future…sometimes it's so hard to just trust and know what he has planned will be so much greater than what I was hoping for.
thank you for your inspiration!
May God Bless you and your family,
Candy
Hiram Me
[email protected]
OK, I cannot help myself but to share this bit of wisdom. My mother always says, "A rose grows because it has dirt, gets water and sunshine and needs to be pruned once in a while. But it smells even sweeter after a bunch of crap has been piled on it."
I always remember that when I am going through my own time of fertilization. Even though I may experience things that are not very pleasant at the time, I know how much I will benefit in the future if I wade through- well, the crap. Hope this makes you giggle a little and I really enjoyed the blog post today!
Hugs all around-
Charlie
Hi, Renee,
Your article really spoke to my heart. I just got divorced and am trying to rebuild my life again. I need to surrender all my plans and hopes for the future and allow God to manifest His plans for me – because I know He is a good God and His will is always good, acceptable, and perfect. God bless you :))
I am asking for prayer as god places me in greener pasture. This exspirance has been something I have never had the boldness to do before, but now. God has done the unthink able through me. That is give me a voice to share the love of god. It is humbling for me, and scary. But I am going to be ok about it all.
I'm still trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be learning of late … maybe to stop depending on my own plans and rejoice in the fact that God has the reins in my life? That I don't have to know the whys and hows of our journey together??
Your Aster is adorable!!
Amy
Roxboro, NC
This was so perfect for today! We are surrendering our "dream house" to God and possibly downsizing by at least 60%.
We felt the tug on our heart last year to put our house on the market but didn't have our priorities straight. Now we are holding on to God as we go on the greatest adventure of our lives. We are looking forward to the blessings He has in store for us as we surrender to His will for our lives.
It's been tough getting rid of our stuff but we keep trying to remember it's just STUFF. It will never fill that void of not being in the Lord's will.
Thank you for your great posts. Looking forward to seeing more pics of your beautiful bundle of joy!
[email protected]
Renee,
Life feels so hard, it's nice to hear others going through things also, it helps me not feel so alone. My husband who(a PhD candidate)has been looking for a job for over six months, our family (three kids) is living in the basement of a friends house (we need to leave there in two weeks), and we're surrendering our dream of living in the town we believed God told us to go to. What does He have for us now if we really didn't hear His voice to come here? I've cried and cried tonight feeling so alone, so abandoned and rejected. We need to find somewhere else to live, which will most likely mean moving to another city with family, and that city is just not our "dream". So we could really use prayer. I've drawn on His strength and learned a ton about dependency but I'm weary…
Thanks for sharing your life through the devotional today. I needed it..
[email protected]
I definitely needed to read this today. I have been so confused and overwhelmed and I know I just need to surrender COMPLETELY not just what I am comfortable surrendering. Thank you!
Irene B., 28
NC
Your message was something I needed to hear. Like many that posted I too struggle with what I am suppose to be doing with my life. The pain and depression of it overwhelms me so much at times. I need peace on this journey.
Angela, 42
Houston
[email protected]
I think I have spent the last few years being pruned for a friendship that I am in now. It has been a journet getting here thus far.
There are tons more. I am trying to be open to His change!
Shannon
Renee,
Thank you for sharing the devotional today. God has certainly been pruning me over the last several months. I have felt his calling and turned my life over to him. He has removed me from friendships in order to prepare me for a new direction. I am excited and fearful all at the same time. Thank you for giving me the encouragement I needed. God gives me exactly what I need each day.
Have a blessed day.
Mary, 35, South Carolina
[email protected]
Hello Renee,
I feel like most of my time as a married woman, we've been struggling with finances and as soon as a job looks promising, they change the payscale or something of that nature.
I feel as though I keep begging God to set us free from this hold our bills have over us each and every day, we have gone to the bare minimum in our budget and it's still rarely enough.
I surrender to the promise that God gave me in Jeremiah, that His plans are not for us to be harmed but for us to prosper and have a future filled with hope. I have seen amazing miracles from people we don't even know, but I just don't know what else there is for me to surrender to Him. It's a daily struggle in my mind and in my heart.
If you could pray for our situation to finally improve and for us to do more than sigh (and cry in my case) every time pay day comes and we rarely have enough to make until the next one. I just pray that we can do better, that a better job comes along…one where my husband can feel connected to good people and one for me that will work around his schedule so the kids won't be affected.
I know my story is not rare in these times, I just feel at the end of my emotional rope as more medical needs keep coming up for me and there's no money to get the care I need.
I thank you for any moment of prayer in our names, Renee.
May God bless you,
Nicole, 31, Kansas
Hi Renee,
Thank you so much. You have helped me more than you will ever know.God wants me to give up doubt,unbelieve.He wants me to surrender all.And I have been struggling with this for awhile.
Thank you again and please continue to share with us.
Hi Renee,
Could you please pray for me?
I have had a tough year with my
brother dying at 42. I truly feel
God's presence in my life however
I feel I am out on a limb. My whole
personality seems to have changed-
don't even like what I got my Masters degree in! Eek!
Not sure where to go from here…to
find myself whoever I am.
I know God is transforming me but into what and when will I feel like I am here? Thanks for your prayers!
Thanks for the devotion on the rose
bush.
DP
wow – surrender is such a hard thing. i used to think i was okay with it, but then i find myself trying to be in control again. right now God is wanting me to surrender my future. after almost 10 years of marriage and going on 3 as a widow, i still think i can plan and decide and know exactly how things should happen. and i can plan, and i can make decisions, God has given those tasks to me, but i have to do it prayerfully and carefully listening for His voice admist the chaos in my head. in this last couple of years, i have discovered just how fickle my little human mind can be as i react to different situations. thank you so much for this reminder that we sometimes have to be uprooted and planted again in fresh soil!
Renee:
What a heart-felt devotional today. It struck a heart chord. The Lord has been "pruning" me for the past 18 months – cutting away dead, dying or decaying parts of my life. At first, I was resistent – well, there are times I am defiant, like a child throwing a fit. However, once I calm down, and remember that one rotting berry in the bowl will spoil the whole batch (to mix metaphors), I am thankful for the work that the Lord is doing. I can't say that it is always easy or comfortable – I've had to endure the desolution of my 7-year marriage (because of my ex's sexual abuse of my teenage daughter), a second brain tumor, the loss of my house to foreclosure, near eviction due to financial difficulties, having to live with my 2 children in hiding because of death threats by my ex, plus just the usual ups and downs of being a full-time working single mother… but I have seen the unfurling of new, green leaves, and I have seen the that my "stems" are growing stronger and aren't as frail a they were a year ago… 6 months ago… I'm able to drink up more of that Living Water, as I dig my roots deeper and deeper into the rich soil that is the Love of the Lord. Soon, I know there will be beautitul blossoms and a fragrance that will sing of God's glory!
Please be in prayer that I will continue to be patient with the Lord's gardening, and that there will be safety in His Garden, for my children, and myself – both physical and emotional.
God Bless you, Renee, and God be with your readers!
Ann in Seattle
[email protected]
Renee, thank you for that beautiful description. My husband of 19 years suddenly walked out on me& our daughter, for another woman and her family. I am trying to surrender him, my marriage, and control over to GOD. The pain and hurt are excruciating but i am trying.
info for drawing: Tracey, 41, in Athens, GA
[email protected]
Hi Renee…your words spoke deep to my heart, which led to me sharing this devotion with many of my loved ones–as we are all personally grieving or grieving alongside of me at the loss of my mom! I wanted to share with you the blurb which I prefaced this to them:
Hi Loved Ones…
I wanted to share this with you all today, because it really spoke to me. While the scenario described below is much different from ours, many of the same questions and doubts she expressed–very much echoed those deep within my heart–mainly, "How was I going to make it without her?". Mom was a constant, always praying for me, always cheering me on, always caring, always believing in me, always encouraging–and we all know she could encourage with the simplest smile or touch of her hand or even blunt truth.
With her gone, I still ask how I am going to make it without her. So many of my hopes and dreams have been shattered, making me question and doubt what God was doing–sound familiar?! Scripture tells us that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). But, by focusing on my pain, my loss, my circumstance–it makes it difficult to see that. Looking beyond–to the eternal perspective does help ease my pain and help me reflect upon the glory and splendor of my loving God. But the questions will remain and I am far from understanding….
Just last week, with a change in events, I felt defeated, like my prayers are never being answered…but Maggie reminded me that prayers on other levels are being answered and it will just take time to see that…and my grandma reminded me too of many, many prayers that have been answered…And just like mom shared with me as I ventured out on my first mission trip to Hungary–"You may not see the blessings this side of heaven"…so trust, I will…surrender for the display of His Splendor…and I know this too is a season to be followed with more pruning and refining!
Thank you for loving me and being all that you are to me…
With grace and joy,
Andrea
———————
Your words and example are so true on many levels!
God's timing with devotions to challenge or encourage always seems to hit the mark. I am on a devastating roller coaster ride dealing with my husbands affair. It was revealed 7 months ago and had been working well on issues, but I have just found out that he has been lying to me the whole time. Feeling worthless. Your Prov 31 devotion helped. Just want it all to be over!!!
Thanks
Renee – I am so glad to see the happy ending for you and your little Aster. I worked as a social worker with children for many years, and it always made my heart smile when I saw a child find their forever parents – just like when we are adopted into God's family and have our forever father.
God is getting me to surrender my worry about finances. I know God will provide and my husband does a wonderful job of taking care of us, but I still have doubts and worries.
This is timely for me. I'm praying about the direction of my life now that my kids are back in school. I keep sensing surrender and a new thing. My dreams continue to follow me. I have no clue how to get where I long to go, but I believe in His time the path will be more clear.
God speaks to me a lot from my garden. Which reminds me, I need to get out there and plant three pots.
🙂
Thanks for sharing this post. I loved it.
Hi Renee~God is wanting me to surrender my desires to be in control to Him. It's been about 7 years and I'm still waiting (or trying..) patiently on the Lord. I have dealt with a lot of fears and anxieties, and I know he wants me to totally depend and trust in Him.
And a BIG congratulations to you on your sweet baby girl. Aster is a radiant little baby. She will fill your heart with so much joy as my own daughter, who turns 2 in a few weeks, has filled mine! So very happy for you!
Blessings to you and thank you for sharing your life with me on here!
Margaret Murphy, age 31
Houston, TX
[email protected]
Surrendering certain things and even people that we love can be so difficult and painful at times. I'm extremely thankful that no matter what, I'll never have to surrender my sweet Jesus. He is my constant source of strength, comfort, and joy.
Love ya,
Leah
Wow, I get the P31 Devotions everyday and yesterday and today's message was a good kick. I am 29, single, never married and dating a guy one month today. His schedule is so hectic that I am not quite sure what to think of this relationship. Though he wrote me a beautiful email a while back that stated he is wanting to take this in God's timing…so I should be too? I want so much to control this and let an amazing guy go…but I must realize that God is in control and whoa…He is teaching me patience and discernment. My desire is to be married and here I am trying to control all of it. Your message Renee was amazing and something that I need to hold close to my heart.
Renee,
Thank you and the Proverbs 31 Ministries – I am filled with thankfulness that God loves me and talks to me each day when I open my heart and many times it is through these devotions. Isaiah 43:18-19 is my life scripture – so when I got here today I knew God was talking to me! I am 45 and live in Seward, Nebraska. My email is [email protected]
God bless your heart for sharing His wisdom with all of us.
Hi Renee! Please pray for me & my family relationship.
I try endlessly with my mother-in-law & sister-in-law to allow me to be a part of their relationship. They are wonderful christian ladies but I feel like a "third wheel" when I am around them. I have been a part of this family for nearly 19 yrs. now and the three of us have never once been out to lunch or shopping.
I have made numerous attempts to do so but they always have other plans. This hurts deeply. It makes me feel as if something is wrong with me.
My mother-in-law is a preacher's wife and my husband is the assistant pastor at their church. I do attend church there because of my husband. Due to all the hurt, I leave church on many occasions and cry all the way home.
In a few days, my sister-in-law and her husband are renewing their vows and I offered to help two months ago. I love helping with things like that and it hurts deeply because she hasn't involved me with this special occasion in her life. I feel as if this is the "final straw". I am considering not attending this ceremony.
Renee, please add me & my situation to your prayer list. I welcome any advice you can give me.
Many Blessings,
Cindie – Age 40, Charlotte C.H., VA.
[email protected]
Surrender, it truly is all about surrender. I have been surrendering my plans and my timing to God. Not always by choice. 🙂
In Sept of 2006, I was 20 wks. pregnant with my 3rd child. The ultrasound showed possible problems. Tests revealed Trisomy 18. It is incompatible with life. God alone walked us through the 2nd half of the pregnancy. On Jan. 22, 2007 our little Lindsi Karen was born. She was only with us a few moments before she passed. Incredible heartbreak, but God doesn't make mistakes.
My husband said we were done having children. He couldn't go through another pregnancy. My heart broke again and I just started praying that God would either change his heart or change mine.
July of 2008, my husband changed his mind. Since then we have been trying to conceive, without success. What a rollercoaster of emotions I ride every month. Mourning over and over.
I know that God's will and His timing are absolutely perfect, but sometimes it hurts so badly. I am grateful that He will listen to my bouts of anger that turn into cries of anguish that turn into complete surrender to Him. Praise His precious name!! He has NEVER turned away from me.
So I will continue to wait on Him, hope in Him and believe in His perfect ways!! He is so good!
Jennifer
age 39
North Branch, MN
[email protected]
Dear Renee
Can u pls pray for me. I am a single woman with special needs who will be turning 50 in a few weeks. i have been praying for a christian mate so i can share my life with someone as i get older.
I enjoy reading your blog. it is such an encouragement to me
God Bless You
Elena
I started reading your P31 devotionals online about a week ago and have been amazed how each day it has been just what I needed to hear for whatever was pressing on my mind at the time. Today is no different. My family is surrounded with change. A new house, a new baby, a new school for my son, close friends moving away, our small group at church being broken up, a promotion for my husband, me resigning my job to stay home with the kids…just a broad overview of the last six months. And while most of the changes are good and all part of His plan, none of them were part of our plans. I feel like an uprooted rose bush. I know it is all part of the plan and God will grow me into a beautiful blossoming bush, but right now I feel small, frail, and alone. Thank you for sharing your devotions. I find them to be a great comfort and an important tool to keep me growing.
Staci, 26, Cape Girardeau, MO
Renee, Am in a quandry over a job offer. Am trying to listen to what God wants me to do. It seems to have come at a very good time. My name is Christy, I'm 37 and I live in Bryson City, NC. My email [email protected]
Renee;
More and more, God keeps taking me back to surrendering my self. I know He has called me to women's ministry and I have spent so much time trying to do it my way, the way that is based on what I know and have done in the past. This I do because it is safe and doesn't require me to step out of my comfort zone. Yet my heart longs to be a humble servant used by God to educate, edify and encourage His daughters in who they are and who they are becoming. This ministry is much bigger than I, but it will never be big as long as I cling to what I know.
I will begin seminary next Monday which I am excited about and slowly but surely, I know He will help pry my fingers off of my comfort zone. I so desperately want to be His servant, but making that shift which may cause doors to close is scary. I know He is there and more and more, I am discovering that I am going to have to trust Him completely in all things.
Please know that your writing brings comfort to so many of us. Your transparency is appreciated and admired. Watching you take giant steps towards dreams that are also in my heart helps me face God and the possibilities and promises He has for me. I know it can be exciting to see and receive what God has for us, but what He gives is often so much bigger than we are and the gifts can be daunting.
I pray that He gives you and all those who read your messages and hear your stories everything that is needed in order to receive everything He has.
May you be blessed.
Monica T. Smith
[email protected]
48 yrs old
Williamsburg, VA
I am sooooo very overwhelmed by this devo today as God spoke this very truth to me last night. Renee Thank You so much for allowing God to speak through you I am so grateful. Please pray and agree with me that I continue to always seek God first and that I dont doubt I have heard his voice no matter what others may say.
I also have been following your journey of bringing your daughter Aster home and I am so excited and overjoyed for you..God's blessings on your family.
Love Sis Toni
here is my contact info for drawing
Domiona (Toni) …age 27
[email protected]
Renee,
This is Jessica again. My email address is [email protected]
Renee,
I read your devotion on P31 and then came to your blog. On your blog, you referenced the scripture about being a servant. I am struggling right now and am wondering if you can provide some guidance or insight.
How can we be a servant to others without losing our identity? I am giver by nature–nothing makes me happier than to do for someone else. However, I am also recently seperated from my husband of 10 years. During that time period, my mom says that she lost her daughter. She says that I wasn't myself anymore. In our conversations I ask her to explain because I am trying to find "me". Now that I am alone in my apartment I sit at night and don't know what to do. There is no one to "do" for–no one to cook for, no one to care for, no one to mother. I am at loss …..
My name is Jessica, I'm 35 and live in Glen Carbon, IL
The story you told truly spoke to me today. I also felt the same loss when my boyfriend moved to Arizona for two years while I remained in Minnesota. I often wondered and asked God why he had allowed him to move so far away. It was a struggle in our relationship and it didnt seem fair when it had seemed so perfect. I now realize that God has used the opportunity to strengthen the relationship we had, as well as give us the opportunity to look towards him for our strength. We still have our struggles, as he continues to live in AZ, and I pray that God will continue to use this to bring us closer to him. Thank you for your prayers.
Andrea, 19 Circle Pines MN
[email protected]
Your devotion this morning, was exactly what I needed…ofcourse…God speaking to me, through you. I ask you for prayer this morning. In May of last year, I quit my job of 15 years, and a very healthy income, to stay at home with my children (6). I felt God had been guiding me to step out in faith for quite some time, but I was struggling with the fear of not being able to make it financially. I took the leap of faith, and have started a business from my home, trying to make ends meet, and spending more time with my children than ever before. I have felt so blessed with the valuable time I spend with my children, but financially we are really struggling. There is just not enough to make ends meet. I am facing going back to work, to avoid loosing my home..but truly do not feel that's where God wants me. Can you please pray God will help me to understand what he is saying to me, and help put me smack dab in the middle of His plan for me. Thank You
We have a 15 month old son and my husband lost his job and we had to sell our house this past summer. Only God was able to have the house sell in two weeks!! My husband and I have been having issues in our marriage for a couple of years now. He has moved out and we are trying to get things worked out. We swap our son every other week. This has been hard on all of us. Please pray for my husband's salvation and the reviving of our marriage.
Renee,
I received this devotion on this day that my family had to stop the bonding process with a little 7 y/o girl in Kazakhstan because the IA doctors gave her a high-risk diagnosis of microcephaly. Please pray that we have peace with this decision. It is extremely devastating to reject this beautiful child with so many "what-ifs" and unknowns. But we feel our first priority is to our 10 y/o son. We are definitely struggling with identifying God's plan today and your prayers would be appreciated.
Vonda
Hey Renee, The Lord has set a huge sacrifice on my husbands heart. We have both worked all our lives and just a few weeks ago, God layed on my husbands heart for me to quit work and stay home with our girls. We have outstanding bills and in order for us to meet all of these, it takes two working. I know this is all about steping out on Faith and Trust. I am like you. I am second guessing myself to really trust in Him to make ends meet. I know God never fails and He is always there. I think I am the main one on this decision because I am the type who needs to really hear and see from God that this is what he wants me to do. Actually, God needs to show me how this is going to work. This has been my longing desire so that I can be there for my girls when they need me. With me working and the rules to abide by in my employment are strict, I can not always be there for them. Please pray for our ears to be sensitive to God's voice and our eyes to be open to see what God is showing us so that we can contunie to follow His will for our lives. We appreciate all prayers.
Sincerely,
Sherrie (age 36) & William (age 38) Carter residing in North, SC. [email protected]
P.S. I am really enjoying these daily devotions.
The past year has been a year of transition in the life of my family. God has taken us on a journey that has been very painful, but obviously needed.
In ministry too many times we become so much a part of the "church machine" that we totally lose sight of Jesus. We read His word but our brains just see red and black words on a page. The words no longer have meaning. We serve out of obligation. We give out of compulsion. We smile out of duty. We show compassion out of expectation. We are a part of the machine. It takes over our daily lives, it becomes more important than our marriage, our children or our relationship with our Savior.
We always said that "we would never be a statistic of ministy." It was not going to happen to us, we were above the disgrace that comes from ministry mishaps. We were too spiritual. God would protect us from the enemy. We were wrong. God had another plan.
While in the midst of the turmoil we couldn't see past the next hour. Much less into a new year. We had to sell our home, move across the country to live with my parents, we didn't have jobs and although my husband had almost completed a doctorate he couldn't find work. The stress was so great you could actually feel it. It was like a heavy wool blanket around our shoulders. Scratchy and uncomfortable all the time. There were few kind words to be said, only an occasional smile and rarely a hug or an I Love You. What had we become? What had happened to our dreams and our resolve to be One Flesh. Daily I would pour out my heart to God. I am not sure that I meant all that I said, but I honestly did the best I could with the little life that was left in me. Some days I didn't have the strength to focus on anything except feeding the children.
I am so glad to be able to tell you that in the past year I have seen God work out his plan for my life as only He could do. I have learned to trust – which is really difficult for me. I have learned that Grace is what I want to receive and what I want to give. I have learned that Jesus is really all that I need. I didn't need my "Country Living" house, or my flower boxes, or the approval of church leaders. I didn't need to be in charge of Children's Church, VBS and every bulletin board. I didn't need to be the designer for the auditorium renovation or the Christmas decorating team. I didn't need to lead every retreat, Bible Study and work in the nursery. What I needed was to love my husband and children and surrender my heart and mind to Jesus. God has taken care of healing my marriage and restoring our joy.
It has been an unforgettable year and I am looking forward to the Fall and what God has in store for my family.
God Bless You and Your Ministry to Woman. Your encouragement is contagious.
DFW, Texas
Thanks for sharing your journey. I"m struggling with a different job I started seven months ago.
Thank you for sharing your struggles. I'm struggling with a different job I started seven months ago.
Thank you for sharing God's pruning work in your life, Renee. I have read Aster's story with tears in my eyes. Praying her safely home with you very soon.
God has been teaching me for 16 years to surrender my marriage and my husband to Him. I keep wanting to make hubby happy, sometimes surrendering my own happiness to do so, and I am often reminded that he is God's child and God will deal with his spirit, and I should continually pray, but stay out of their business. It's not easy to do when I see him hurting and believing Satan's lies. Please keep us in prayer, as I do your family and your ministry.
God bless you all!
Jennifer
(38 yrs old in Fredericktown, OH, email- [email protected])
Good morning Rene, I just want to thank you for letting God use you to uplift me in my daily walk with the Lord. Please pray for me to be encouraged in where I'm at in my life right now. God has brought me this far and I know that He has more in plan, but I need to let Him work out his plan and I need to keep my hands and my mind (ideas) to myself. They tend to wonder and get me off track, by wanting to help the Lord, as if I could or rush Him. I am where He wants me right now and I just need to be encourage and stop having those little doubts that seem to get me wondering. Any sugguestion to keep my mind from wondering from the truth? God Bless you and may you continue to be one of His chosen vessels.
Sincerly,
Monique
Sac. CA
My name is Debbie. I am 52, and live in Biloxi, MS. My email address is [email protected]
Enjoyed your devotional today about the rose bush! Man, could I ever use the dvd!
Hi! I'm having to trust God with all my hart at this time in my life. He has seen me through so much in my life I know it's because of him I'm still alive and I thank him for that. Two years ago I married a christian man who knows Gods word but does'nt walk the walk our first year was wanderful this past year he has abandon me and comes back and forth making promises and I so always believe him. We are now seperated again and it hurts so bad but through Gods grace he has blessed me with a tempory job that I pray will become permenent. My daughter and I are closer then ever before I have surrended my husband to God and I don't sit around crying and wondering about who is with or what he is doning. All I do is pray for him and ask God to bless him. I don't know what God has planned for my marriage but I stand on his promises. As a daughter of his I know he does not want me to hurt over what man does its only made me stronger in faith and realize you can't control what people do, but let me tell God can. Thank you for your encouragement. Margo
I read your story on Christianity.com – Encouragement Today, and it lead me to your blog. God is so good, He knows when to send me reminders that He is in control and it's okay to let go and trust in him. I have had trust issues since I was very young and the more I get to know the Lord and I mean really get to know Him, I feel myself letting things go and trusting in Him to get me through the storm. Praise God for holding me up when I just couldn't stand on my own.
I have a prayer request, my husband and I are seperated, and my family is really hurting. My husband is with another woman and is seeking a divorce. My first and reaction would be to have nothing to do with him, and give him the divorce. But I did that before and don't want to be in this same position 5 years from now…again. God has put in in my heart to forgive my husband and fight for my marriage through seeking Him. I want so much to just run away from this pain, and storm I am in, but I gave myself to the Lord and know He loves me and will get me through this a stronger person, woman of God and a mother who will lead her children to Jesus. I feel a calling on my life and don't want to disobey God. I want to stay focused on God and not my husband and what he is doing. Please pray for me to fully trust in the Lord and seek his will for me and allow him to work in my life so I can be that woman of God he intended me to be.
Thank you & God Bless you & your family.
Veronica
my info:
35 yrs. old
I live in Berwyn, IL
[email protected]