9/3/99
"Remember your promise to me, your servant; it has given me hope.
Even in my suffering I was comforted because your promise gave me life." (Psalms 119: 49, 50)
God gave me a specific promise which has not yet come to pass, but it will in His time. Once when I was discouraged and throwing a spiritual type of tantrum with Him because outward circumstances did not indicate that He was working on this for me, I decided to give up hope. (I guess that was my spiritual pouting). It was the worst feeling I have ever had. I have never felt so empty. I had nothing to look forward to in my life. Then I realized that I had no reason to feel this way except by my own choice not to believe Him. He has given us a promise and a hope, which brings us life. Don't give it up. Stand and wait for Him. Habakkuk 3: 16 says, "I will quietly wait for the time to come when God will punish those who attack us." We can wait quietly for Him when we trust Him and have hope.
Hopelessness is not to be confused with helplessness. I can remember lying on my bed another time crying out to Him that I was hopeless. He said that as long as I have Him I am never hopeless, but I might be helpless. When I finally reached the end of my rope and surrendered the situation fully to Him, He moved. Why do I sometimes have to reach the end of my rope? Why can't I lay every situation at His feet immediately and take my hands off and keep them off? We must remember these words from Hebrews 13: 5,6. "God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.' Let us be bold, then, and say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' "
We have to trust, trust, trust Him. Do not be discouraged when it takes time to see prayers answered. He has not forgotten you. His ways are perfect. Trust Him and keep your hope. He will help you. That hope gives you life and you are comforted even in the midst of difficulties. We will see the goodness of the Lord.
Lord, you alone are worthy of our praise. I love you and worship you from my heart. I thank you that my hope is in you. Forgive me for fear and doubt. Lord, I lift to you each person here and their families and loved ones. I pray that you, the all-sufficient One, would meet every need. Please give hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless, love to the unloved. Save, heal, and deliver them in your mercy and grace. Draw our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances and onto You, the living God who loves us. Thank you for the peace you bring. Thank you for your love.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
© 1999 Sharron Mortensen.. All rights reserved.
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9/4/99
"You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust." He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases." (Psalm 91:3)
I left home this morning after leaving the welcome message to go camping for the weekend. My husband and youngest son are already there. I got about 30 miles away when my brakes stopped working right in the middle of a little town having a festival. Some children ran out in front of me but my brakes failed! I didn't hit them by God's grace. I know they don't know how protected they were. Do any of us realize it?!? Thank you, Lord.
I got to a gas station, but there weren't any mechanics. A customer looked under my hood and said that my fluid was full. There was no one to call for help and I couldn't stay there, so I prayed very hard and drove Very slowly home, praying all the way. I had to drive approximately 30 miles of windy, hilly, narrow roads presumably without properly working brakes. I had no idea if there would be ANY brakes the next time I touched them. I kept my flashers on all the way back. I noticed that a red pickup was behind me as soon as I started out. He never tried to pass me even when he could have. He followed me almost all the way home. I knew that God had him there. I really thought God told me that my brakes were fine now, but fear had me unsure of whether to believe He said that or not. I had no trouble at all and my brakes are now working properly. Once again, it proves that fear is False Evidence Appearing Real! The devil is such a Liar....why do we ever listen? Anyway, I'll have my other son take me over there tonight, so please pray for us. *smile* I pray that each of you has a great weekend, too. (This reminds me of another 'brakes' story, but I'll save that one...it's even more awesome than this.....oh, well, I'll tell you now hehehhehe) When I was a new Christian and Stan was just transferred to work four hours away, I had my brakes go out on a Friday. I left the car to be repaired while I went to work, but they didn't try (they didn't tell me till 5PM Friday night when I went to pick the car up!). This was in a town 25 miles from home. I was so scared to drive the road I had to take home, but I prayed Hard and heard, I am with you always, even to the end of the ages. I made it home. The brakes seemed to work when I really needed them, although I didn't test them much. I wanted very much to go to church on Sunday so I prayed Hard that the brakes would work again, put my 3 year old and 2 month old in the car and went to church and back home. The brakes worked ok, but I didn't take the car anyplace else. That evening, I had a neighbor follow me to the dealership where I left my car near the service door, and put my keys in the early bird box with a note telling them that I had no brakes, please fix them. I had no problem with the brakes on the way there (after praying). The next morning, I phoned the dealership to see if they got the note and could they work on the car. They said they did and that they read where I told them I had no brakes, but they thought I meant the brakes weren't working well and drove the car into the shop. They said they almost drove through the wall because there literally were no brakes.....the brake line was cut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God is so awesome! He is our protector. Why did I listen to any fear today when He did that before? Stay close to Him believers and release every situation to Him and trust Him to take care of it.
Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him.
© 1999 Sharron Mortensen.. All rights reserved.
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I'm a Little Teacup ....and so are you
"But you are our father, Lord. We are like clay, and you are like the potter. You created us." (Isaiah 64:8)
I had just heard a story on a Joyce Meyer video when God led me to a new computer mouse pad to keep reminding me of her story. The mouse pad is a picture of a beautiful teacup with two children in it. The story was similar to this:
An older couple went into an antique shop and found a beautiful little teacup high on the top shelf. The old man took the teacup off the shelf and handed it to the lady. As they admired it, the teacup began to speak. "I wasn't always this beautiful. I used to be just a lump of clay. You wouldn't have wanted me then. One day the potter picked me up and put me on this wheel. It started spinning around and around, faster and faster. I got so dizzy and begged him to stop, but he just looked at me and said 'not yet'. I thought I couldn't take any more but he kept me spinning and I begged him to stop. Finally the spinning stopped. Whew. I was so relieved. But then...you won't believe this one....He put me in this oven and turned on the heat and closed the door!! It was awful: (I thought I would die in there! I begged and pleaded and cried Stop Stop...but he just looked in at me and said calmly, 'not yet'. Finally he took me out...I was so happy to get some air. But THEN...he got out this stinky paint and started Painting me. There was no mercy, every speckle of me was painted! You couldn't see any of ME!!! I didn't look like myself at all after he got done. I was pleased by that time with the new look, though, and decided I was glad I survived the torture. Buth thennn...and you'll Never believe this one...he put me backkkkkk in the oven!! and this time the fire was alot HOTTER!!!!!!! *cought* *cough* *choke* *choke* Hey!! Are you trying to KILL me??????? I can't breathe! Let me outta here!! He just looked at me and said in the Calm voice, 'not yet'. Sheesh! I thought I wouldn't make it this time, honest. I cried and cried and begged to get out, but he would just say, 'not yet'. Finnnnnnnally! He took me out of the fire. He held me so lovingly in His hand and admired me. I felt so beautiful and so loved. *smile* Now, I really can be used."
Be blessed. God is making us beautiful and usable.
© 1999
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10/16/99
God has had me really clean house different times, both spiritually and physically. Things creep into our lives and our homes.
When we clean the kitchen, how long does it stay that way? If you sweep the floor or dust the furniture, do you ever have to do it again? Or clean a closet...it doesn't stay that way forever! We stick things in there to get them out of sight. Some of those things get buried deep behind and beneath other things and we forget they are there. But this happens in our spirit, too. Have you buried anything yourself rather than giving it fully to God? (hint: If you didn't forgive someone for an offense, chances are the pain and bitterness are hiding, too....or maybe not hiding. The stench permeates although we may not realize it ourselves, thinking it is just 'how I am,' but it is more obvious to others.) Sometimes, in the natural, there is a flaw in the house like a damaged place on a wall. We get so used to it that we don't notice it anymore, but a new visitor sees it immediately. That happens in our 'personality', too. But Jesus came to set the captives free. We don't Have to hang onto these things.
I remember a few years ago when He had me going through every closet and every drawer in my house and showed me things I had hung onto that I should have let go of as well as things that had crept into my house. Many of those things I didn't realize would cause problems, others I didn't know were even there. Once He pointed them out, all I had to do was give them up. It's amazing how difficult some of the 'things' were to get rid of, but I did. And as soon as I did, peace came.
He wants us to let Him help us clean house, too... the spiritual house where He lives. He will show us what to get rid of. All we have to do is repent of having it there and give it to Him. Don't hang onto those evil thoughts, those old pains, that unforgiveness, the secret sins that you think no one knows about....He knows. Let's ask Him sincerely to help us clean house so we can be those open vessels of honor that He can pour His love for others through. Be ready....if you ask Him to take an inventory and help you, He will. He'll expose it to you (this isn't pleasant), then it's up to you to give it to Him. He knows exactly what to do with it. He'll teach you. Trust Him and receive His peace and His love. Let Him use you to love others, you will be so blessed.
Lord, I lift up each one reading this and I pray that you will give them the courage to let you help them clean their spiritual house as well as to remove those things in the natural which stand in the way of knowing you and being all you intend us to be. Give them courage and determination, knowing that you are there with them. Thank you, God, that we belong to you. Use us to encourage one another and to love the lost to life with your love.
In Jesus' name. Amen
Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to ask Him for this...for your sake.
© 1999 Sharron Mortensen.. All rights reserved.
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10/31/99
One in Purpose
One in purpose
No divisions or strifes
That is God's will
for all of our lives
Be completely united
in purpose and thought
That is what Jesus
came to earth and taught
Let God rejoin
and heal all the wounds
He loves us all
and wants us in tune
Forgive in Godly love
For that comes only from above.
1 Corinthians 1:10 "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I appeal to all of you, my brothers, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose."
© 1999 Sharron Mortensen.. All rights reserved.
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11/22/99
Weed Control: Gardening our minds and hearts