I have been watching my days pass by as I prayed about my next blog post. So much went on over the summer -- blessings, after blessings, after blessings! We worked tire-fully (you know opposite of tirelessly) to fund raise, speak to churches, visit family and friends, and also prepare for our coming back home (Bethlehem) and seeing the city and children we have come to love so much... all within 5 short weeks! And I love that even when you are busy working for the Kingdom, God still throws in a few obstacles to remind you to stay humble and seek Him. He's a GOOD, GOOD FATHER!
And He loves challenging those that He loves!
And He loves challenging those that He loves!
Our month of July we spent resting, preparing, ministering to children at a Summer Camp we ran at the school, and also ministering to those that needed a little extra help.
Now here we are in August and God still chooses to challenge us. "There's no rest for the weary."
I recently came across a familiar Evangelist, John Gray, and I heard for the first time his message that is titled "It's Not Over". Because I love the way he spoke I decided to look up more of his messages and came across different sources that provided them. However, in the 3 times in the past few days I have found a video it was the exact same message just at different locations. At first I was a little thrown that in the whole WWW I would find two of the same messages by the same guy. But, it wasn't over, because the next day I found yet another video. So for a third time, I sat down and watched the entire message, same references, same jokes, same everything. And I felt God tug at my heart over my recent prayers..... IT'S NOT OVER.
The challenge isn't over.
The challenge isn't over.
This school year I got asked to substitute for an incoming teacher, and once that was over I would go into teaching my classes -- Bible and also still running the Library. Well, for those who know me, they know that I am a bit of an over achiever. If I am going to do it, I want to do it right because I like to feel proud of myself. In my devotion time I have been praying for motivation over myself in ONE specific area, and also praying some scripture over myself as well.
God spoke to me in my prayer for this post and as I thought about what He has been teaching me recently, He said, "I don't just work in parts of your life, I work in your life." So while I am praying for motivation over in an important area for myself right now, God is motivating all aspects of my life. This turned into a very busy ME. I am an over achiever with a big servants heart and God.... well He poured a little Miracle Growth on that and I was going full throttle!
Colossians 1: 9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
One of two scriptures I have been praying over myself, the other being 1 Timothy 4:12-16.
He has qualified us and says that we are worthy. Not only that, but He calls us to walk a life worthy of Him because He has qualified us.
God sees your claim of disqualification and raises you to QUALIFIED.
It's not over.
It's not over.
In John Gray's message He references Lazarus' death and how it wasn't over for him, or sisters. They just needed motivation... a faith accelerator.
John 11:4
When He heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."
God will take us through tough times and challenges, not to harm us, but so we can see His glory!
John 11:1-44
God has motivated places in my life that I didn't think needed motivation, but in order for us to grow He challenges.
God has motivated places in my life that I didn't think needed motivation, but in order for us to grow He challenges.
I challenge you for the next time you face a hard time, or even a moment that may seem challenging, remember that, that struggle isn't made to destroy you, it's made to strengthen you. You are qualified to handle whatever it is that God hands you, and.... It's not over.
If you like to watch the same message by John Gray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxffDGY0mA0
Below I have attached a few photos from our Summer Camp:
If you like to watch the same message by John Gray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxffDGY0mA0
Below I have attached a few photos from our Summer Camp:
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| They wrote their own stories. |
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| Message and Worship -- prayer |
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| We have FREEDOM in our worship! |
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| Playing a game to see how many bubbles they could blow. |
