It's been a while

Gosh, where to begin when you haven't posted anything since February? We just went through a very difficult time and a very painful cross country move. We picked up, moved away from a home and family and friends we love. We've moved to Pennsylvania in accordance with God's will. It has NOT been easy and I wanted to move just about as much as Jonah wanted to go to Nineveh. We have been surrounded on all sides with problems and financial issues, but we are not defeated. We will not lose hope or faith or confidence. The story could fill a book and those who know me know only a glimpse of what we have gone through since I really haven't let it all out. Just a few challenges: the death of my mother in law the week we moved, watching my father in law lose his apartment we paid for, closing our business, moving for Jaime to take a job, me starting over completely in teaching and coaching ministry and looking for work in the meantime to pick up the slack in our finances, the relocation issues and nightmare of paying for 2 properties (since our house hasn't sold in Florida) is 'seemingly' devastating. The trials and tests, the financial burden...it all seems never ending. We've gone through so much in 18 months. We're down to nothing - so I guess that means God's up to something! I'd be institutionalized if I didn't have the Lord. Today I just wanted to post a praise to God for the comfort I continually find in his Word. When my flesh screams out, 'Help me God!', he always has an answer. If you are going through what seems like more then you can bear at times, just know he is there. Cry out to the only one who can save you! The Lord is out there, waiting for you to trust in and rely on ONLY Him. He has never left you and nothing you have done to muck things up can change his love for you. He will fulfill his promises, be patient. Happiness is based on happenings, but you can still have the joy of the Lord in the midst of trials. For almost 6 months, the Lord has put the words 'surrounded', and 'on all sides' and 'on every side' in my heart. So I dug in deep to His word looking for answers. He shows us such great things. He shows us there are times we will be surrounded by the enemy, buffeted like Christ, bombarded with trouble. Luke 19:43 (NKJV)'For the days shall come upon thee that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around, and keep thee in on every side.' And he also tells us it's OK to feel confused about it: 2 Corinthians 4:8 'We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.' More than Job and his blame casting friends or Jeremiah preaching while in the stockade, we have new covenant promises! We have the mind of Christ, the fruit of the Spirit and His Word. He promises to use the hard times as a way to build us up to such a greater good if we stand strong rooted on the rock of His Word: 2 Corinthians 4:17 'For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory'. Oh, praise his holy name that I can be glad in trials! Finally, we can look forward to the ultimate outcome. Satan is relentless on those who fear the Lord and walk on His path, even if it's not always easy, but eventually, he loses and we are promised Victory: Revelation 15:2 'And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass and having the harps of God.'

If you are in despair, confused or bombarded with more problems than you can handle, call on Him. If you are a believer, pray this prayer:

Father, In you I rejoice, because you give me the desires of my heart. I just have to wait for them. I've tithed, I've been obedient and I have not given up on you. Thank you for these trials, I will emerge as Gold. My human understanding can't see how it will all work out, but you do because your thoughts are not our thoughts, and your ways are not our ways. Thank you for opening the windows of Heaven. I love you Lord. I am good soil, ready to receive your rains, In Jesus mighty and precious name. Amen

If you don't have the hope that I have talked about or you want or need Christ in your life to Help you, pray this prayer: Father, thank you for your son, Jesus. I believe he died for my sins and that you raised him from the dead. Jesus, come into my life and don't let me go. Help me. Save me.

If you prayed that prayer, please blog me and tell me. I want to rejoice and pray with you, because I know if you prayed that, the Holy Spirit just moved into your heart. The bible says that where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty. Welcome to the kingdom. I know there is a light at the end of your tunnel. And that your problems are now 'but a light affliction'.

All of us can then state this in authority: 'satan, you lousy little worm, you lose! Get behind me!'

Hallelujia!