Releasing a Blessing

You are a blessing.

I  have never seen you.

I have never felt you in my arm

Nor heard your voice.

You are apart of me

blood of my blood.

 

In my heart I carry you.

I carry my love for you along with

my heartache and grief.

 

On most days I rejoice knowing

they prayed for you.

Now you bless their life.

God saw. He knew.

It was His answer to their prayer.

For that I can rejoice.

 

There are days I mourn the loss of you.

I image your smile, laughter, hugs and kisses.

I wonder what it would be like if you were here

with our family.

Tears fall as my heart grieves

…again.

 

Sadness comes, it stay for awhile.

Then there is the pain.

The pain of a mother’s heart to see her child in such

sorrow and regret.

The pain of a grandmother’s heart to know I may never see you

or know you.

 

I pray for him,

The one who released you

to bless another.

He grieves with such sorrow

and pain.

                                                Such sadness and guilt

God sees and He knows.

He promises forgiveness and healing.

He promises to continue the work He started.

 

So today I come, again, to the comfort of my Lord.

I pray that he will heal the broken heart

of the one who released the blessing.

The one whose heart aches

for the loss of it.

I pray for that precious blessing, that he might grow to be

a strong man of God.

A man that serves and obeys.

I pray for his family as they raise him

the one who is now their blessing from God.

 

Jehovah-Raah -The Lord My Shepherd

Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord."  Rô'eh from which Raah derived, means "shepherd" in Hebrew. A shepherd is one who feeds or leads his flock to pasture.¹

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. Ps 23:1

While growing up my husband’s family raised sheep. Because of this he easily identifies with why God often compares us with them. They truly are a helpless animal. They are totally dependent on their caretaker. They do not learn well, they are practically blind and do not hear well. They really have no sense of danger and will just wonder off getting lost. In the word’s of my husband, “Sheep are stupid animals!”

Sheep are fearful animals and can become confused very easily. It has been known to drown themselves or fall of cliffs. In fact, they have been known to plunge blindly off a cliff following one after another. Sheep can not survive without a shepherd.

Taking care of sheep is not easy, especially during biblical times. They shepherd would often need to battle wolves, lions and other wild animals. (1 Samuel 17:34-35). A good shepherd would be totally prepared to lay down his life in order to protect his flock.

Isaiah says in chapter 53:6 “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way”.  Our own nature has a strong tendency to go astray (Romans 7:5), following the lusts of our flesh and eyes and pursuing the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Just like sheep we are so often prone wander away from the Shepherd. In our flesh we pursue our own desires, rejecting God and sin against Him. We are just like sheep who are vulnerable to dangerous enemy attacks without the protection of our Shepherd.

In John 10:15-18 we read that Jesus declares that He is our Shepherd and He says that He is willing to lay down His life for us, His sheep. Because we are basically just like sheep, we need a shepherd to watch over us and protect us. But not just any shepherd will do, we need Jesus.

Jesus is the great Shepherd who did indeed lay down His life for us so that we could have eternal life. Jesus, our Shepherd, leads us, watches over us, protects us. He makes sure that we are well fed and has the basic needs of life. He also feeds us spiritually. And because He is our Shepherd, we know Him. We know his voice, He knows us and we follow Him. (John 10:25-28)

Just like sheep who hear the voice of their shepherd follow him we need to listen to our Shepherd, Jesus Christ—in His Word and follow Him. We need to trust in His voice even if we can’t see. And we need to rest assured that when one of us wander off and get lost He will leave the others to go find them. (Luke 15”3-7)

Oh God you are my Jehovah Raah, My Great Shepherd. Thank you for giving Your life for me so that I might live forever with you. Thank You for Your constant watchfulness over every aspect of my life. You provide all my needs, you keep me safe and You fight the enemy who seeks to destroy me. Oh God, help me to stay attuned to Your voice so that I might not wander away from Your leading. Amen.

¹Blue Letter Bible.com

The Storm of Rebellion

I am currently studying the book of Jonah. The story is not unfamiliar to me. I’ve read it before. I’ve heard sermons. But as I began to slow down and observe the text so I could really see what it says I come to see things I’ve not seen before.

In Chapter 1 verse 4-5 we see that the LORD hurls a great wind on the sea, a great storm,  the sailors become afraid and every man cries out to his OWN god.  The storm does not stop, it increases.

The sailors then try to help themselves and begin throwing things over trying to make the boat lighter.

But where is Jonah? In the midst of this storm ,that is about to destroy the boat, he is fast asleep. He had not been concerned about the storm. He had not prayed to his god.

The sailors then decide to cast lots to see whose fault it was. Who had sinned against their god? The lot fell on Jonah. When faced with the questions from the Captain Jonah admitted that the storm came because he was “fleeing from the presence of God.”

One thing to point out is that these men were sailors. They were use to storms at sea. But this one must have been different. This storm was not like those they usually see.

But still they would not throw Jonah over board when he told them to. They understood it was wrong to take a life. To throw Jonah over would mean his certain death. The taking of his life would mean blood on their hands.

The storm grew worse and the winds grew stronger.

So once again they pray. But this time they call on the LORD. They had already tried to pray to their gods to rescue them and nothing happened. They had tried to save themselves but still they faced certain death.

So, they turned to the Lord God who created the sea and wind. They turned to the one who created the storms and caused the sea to rage around them.

They came to realize that they had to throw Jonah over in order to save their own lives. And when they do the sea grows calm. 

THEN do you know what the text says? “the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.” (1:16)

Wow do you see it? The sailors began by praying to each man’s god, but God uses Jonah’s disobedience to reveal HIS power and might. The sailors come face to face with the creator God, the LORD. What is their response? They fear the LORD, sacrifice to Him and make vows, they worship the One True God.

I just found it amazing as I realized that God would use Jonah’s disobedience to reveal Himself to these sailors.

The other thing that God showed me  was that so often I am like those sailors when a storm hits my life. When I am stressed or things just aren’t going very well I often go to someone other than God. I might not cry out to other gods, but I certainly cry out (or whine) to my husband and/or friends.

Then comes trying to fix it myself? How often do I try to figure it all out, thinking through the circumstance to see what I can do. And how often when the answer is plainly spoken do I say “No! there has to be another way!?” AND during all the time the storm rages around me and becomes worse.

Wouldn’t it be easier if I would just cry out to God in the first place? Couldn’t I just admit my sin of disobedience and flee into the forgiving arms of my God?

Or maybe….I could just learn to not flee God when He calls me to do something I don’t want to do.

Maybe I could just try obedience the first time.

God takes our rebellion seriously.

Oh Lord, I pray that my heart would desire to always obey you the first time. I pray that my heart would be tender toward You and that which You have called me to do. Help me to not look at the impossibilities or difficulties but the look to you as I seek to follow you in all things.

 

(Please note: I am fully aware that not all storms in life come due to rebellion or disobedience, but in Jonah’s case it was. And there are times in our lives it is also the case.)

To Mother’s with Prodigals

If you are currently struggling with a prodigal child, or what I like to call a spiritual wanderer, then my dear sister know that I understand how difficult it can be.

No one, nothing, prepares a mother’s heart if your child decides to follow his own way instead of Gods.

Trust me when I say that I understand how in the midst of the heartache and heartbreak, of watching your child continually make wrong or sinful decisions you can feel alone.

You feel as if no one understands. It’s where the enemy wants you.  If the enemy can get you to isolate yourself, believe the lies he whispers in your mind, then he may be able to convince you there is no hope.

In Christ there is always hope-there is always victory.

Be brave my dear sisters and be willing to take a risk to seek out other sisters who can help you walk through this in truth. I say take the risk because -It is a risk. There will be those who do not understand, who will judge. But there will also be those who will put their arms around you, pray with you, speak truth and just love you through it.

I want to encourage you to go to God. I fully understand that during this time you might want to stay away because of the pain, the guilt and the shame you feel.

Beloved sister, please know it is the enemy. God understands your pain, He knows the hurt you feel for your child.

I've been reading in Ezekial about a Father who is angry over the sin of His children. They have turned away from Him and have chosen wickedness and continual evil. As I read these chapters (especially 4-6) I got a real sense of God's broken heart over the sins of His children.

There have been warnings. There have been opportunities for them to turn from their sinful behavior, but they choose sin. Chapter 5: 13 says that His wrath will be appeased. He will withdraw from them, He will have no pity.

Then in chapter 6:8 God says "however, I will leave a remnant". Isn't that just like God? He always gives mercy, hope and a way for His children to repent! But what struck my heart the most was in Chapter 6 verse 9 it says "I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts."

I don't believe that this is the hurt of an angry righteous God, but the hurt of a Father who loves His children.

A Father who grieves over the sinful choices of His children.

A Father who sees that His children are choosing other things over Him.

So beloved, I know God understands the heart of a mother when she grieves over the sinful choices of her children.

So go to Him...allow him to hold you in His arms and comfort you with singing (Zep 3:17) Take refuge in the shelter of His wings. (PS 61:4)

During my season of heartbreak over my children...I spent ALOT of time in the Psalms.

It was a soothing ointment for my breaking heart. My prayer is that you to will find comfort.

Psalms 25:15-21
My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses. Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins... Guard my soul and deliver me; Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

Ps 34:22
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

Beloved sisters, there can be joy in this time of deep pain. Go before God, cry out to Him...allow Him to teach you how to walk through this with joy and a peace that only comes from His Spirit dwelling in and through you. And go to a sister who will understand, who will pray with you and encourage you through.

But what about my child you say? They are in the hands of God the Father. They must make the journey to God, you must pray.

I love you....I am praying for you.

updated post of original post 6/7/07 titled A Hurt God Understands.