Who Is Lord in Your Life?

Is God Lord of your life? How do you know?

 

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions?

 If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.'

 But the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21 NKJV

 

As I read this passage of Scripture, I began to ponder what God being Lord of my life truly means. Is He the One I go to when I have exciting news to share? worries that seem too big? financial burdens that seem insurmountable? a spouse or child who frustrate me? a job that is too difficult? Do I take these burdens quietly to the Lord or do I find someone to share them with and complain?

 

Is He my first choice when I am struggling or do I:

eat?

cry?

call a friend?

go shopping?

escape in a book?

run?

...

 

When God is truly Lord of our lives, we go to Him first, seeking His counsel and direction. Trust me, I am not pointing the finger at anyone. As I meditated on these thoughts, I was brought to a place of deep repentance and forgiveness. Choosing God first is what I aspire to. Though I am imperfect, He's working on me and guides me into deeper truth each time I seek Him. Trusting Him with those things that are tough draws us nearer to His heart. Admitting to our failures and seeking healing and restoration is a humbling and growing experience: one I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

My challenge to you is to pray and seek the Lord's direction. Ask Him how you're doing and open your heart and mind to hear the truth. Only then can we truly be humble enough to be repentant and seek restoration and healing. Growth is never easy, but it is worth it.

 

Blessings to you on your journey into intimate relationship with Christ, Natalie.



Walk This Way

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:3-6 NKJV

Walking in Christ's way is not easy. We have to battle the flesh and desires of our own hearts, surrendering them to Him and allowing Him to make uncomfortable changes in us. It hurts. Sometimes it pains so much we wonder if we can do it. But we can. Not in our own strength, but we must surrender to His will and His leading and step out in faith, in darkness sometimes and trust Him even when it doesn't make sense.

Does this sound insane? I understand completely. We live in a world constantly bombarded with people telling us, "Have it your way. You deserve it. You can have it all. You can have it now. Don't wait, just grab and go." These sayings are completely contrary to the way that God's economy works. Sometimes He grants us things instantly, sometimes He desires for us to wait, and sometimes He says no! That is the reality of it all.

Do you trust Jesus? Do you trust the Father? Do you trust the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that He loves you and cherishes you completely? Do you believe that He wants only the best and greatest for your life? Are you willing to submit to His leading and wait on Him? Are you willing to obey His commandments and seek His face even when the world is screaming at you loudly to do contrary to what He is saying?

Being a Christian is sometimes hard. That is the truth. Standing out and living to a standard that is higher than the world's can make it seem impossible. But Christ is greater. If you have given your life to Him, He is dwelling in you by the Holy Spirit and can speak truth and direction in your life if you will seek and obey Him. If you do not know Him but would like to know how go to
http://promisesforall.blogspot.ca/2010/09/greatest-promise.html
and pray giving control of your life to the Lord. He will be with you and guide you in all truth.


May the Lord bless you and keep you. In His service,
Natalie

Hungry? Thirsty? Get More of Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

I wonder if you are like me and have read this particular verse a number of time but didn't really see the promise contained in it. Take a few minutes and read it over and over, then really meditate on it. Drink in the truth of the Scripture. God has given us His Word to feed hungry souls, to quench the thirst of our parched cravings. He has given us the answer - Himself!

Lots of times we pray for stuff: healing for our family and friends, money to take care of our needs, answers to our prayers of all shapes and sizes and such things. Have we ever slowed down long enough to think about how many times we've prayed for more of Jesus? This is truly what we need. Please don't get me wrong, Jesus told us to bring our needs to Him and we should, but in the midst of that, we need to be praying for Jesus to come and fill us will His Spirit and invade our lives powerfully. We need His empowerment to go out into this corrupt and broken world to be effective for Him. There is so much hurt and pain, yet the Lord is sufficient for all the needs out there. If we would look beyond the physical needs and pray to be used by God in His plan for our world then we would see amazing things happen for Him. He sees beyond what we see. He knows far more than we could ever begin to imagine. He sees the heart and penetrates the darkness in ways unknown to humanity. What an exciting experience to be part of!! Will you join with me in praying for more of Jesus? Will you partner with Him to do those things He calls you to do? Will you trust Him to keep His promise to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think?"

I'm praying for you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie

Wanted: Brokenness

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart -

These, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

Look at your life for a few moments. Are you taking time to seek God's will for your life or are you "going it alone"? What breaks your heart? What breaks our Savior's heart? Do these things line up or are they far off the mark?

Taking time to examine ourselves is a quality in need of development in the North American (and maybe other) church. We are constantly reminded of grace - which I am so thankful for - yet there is more than grace at work. We serve the same God as Abraham, Moses, David, Deborah,  Esther, Mary, Peter, and Paul served. The above Scripture reference comes from David's heart and reflects a brokenness that surrenders fully to the Lord we serve today.

Are you broken? If not, will you allow God to break you? He will not leave you broken but,

 "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

 And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

 (Psalm 34:18 NKJV)

Jesus died on a cross to save all who are willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior without prejudice. He loves everyone. His heart breaks for those who are caught in the vicious cycle of sin, whatever it is. No one is beyond help. Does your heart break at the sight of sin in the news, in your community, in your home -  I mean break enough that you give it to the Lord to be in control? Or do you desire justice - dished out the way you feel it deserves?

What if we begin to pray through the news we see on the TV, computer, or hear on the radio? What if we begin to give all those things in our lives that are not pleasing to God and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives? What if our focus in the home started with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than self? I encourage you pray, seeking the Lord's will with all your heart and allow Him to break you, then to fill you with His Spirit to be hands and feet for Him, trusting everything to His direction. It may not be easy, but remember the eternal rewards are His to give. Those are not ones which will rot, rust, or be destroyed.

May you rest in Jesus,

Natalie

Reflective Preparation

In this the third week of Advent, it is my prayer that Christians everywhere take the time to reflect on their purpose for celebrating Christmas. In this time of reflection - which I also am taking part in - we can ask ourselves many questions. Some of which may be:

1. Who is the person (or people) I focus on the most in this season?
2. What is the greatest gift I have ever received and why?
3. What is the greatest gift I have ever given and why?
4. Who is on my guest list this year and does it include Jesus?
5. Is the nativity scene-that is probably part of your decorations-central to your celebration or just a religious symbol?
6. Is my heart right with Jesus?
7. What gift have I chosen to give Jesus this season and all year long?

These are just a few questions we can take some time to consider. When we do, we bring the focus away from the bobbles and fancy lights, tasty food, gifts, and many things that keep us from our true focus of CHRISTmas.

I pray you take the time to read Luke chapter 2, seeking Him. Don't just read it through, but experience it. Put yourself in the Story. For those of you who know it word for word, try to read it in another translation so it might be fresh reading, a way for God to truly get your attention, rather than just skimming it over. Soak up the truths and the promise of our Savior. The love He showers us with is incredible. As undeserved as it is, He continues to seek us out, draw us to Him and forgive us that we may be near to Him.

What an incredible God we serve! May this week and the days leading up to Christmas be a time of quiet, reflective preparation in your home and in your heart. May Jesus Christ be central as you celebrate CHRISTmas.

A Promise for Your Family

School time is here! I have spent this week back into the routine of home schooling our three daughters. They are now in grades 9, 7 and 5! I can hardly believe it. How quickly one year passes and another begins. One thing I rest in as each year passes and my precious babies grow and mature into young women are the promises God has revealed through the Holy Scriptures.


Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” I love the promise of this Scripture. However, did you catch the whole and complete meaning behind it? Do you see the responsibility He has entrusted you with? In the very beginning of the promise God reveals to parents that it is our job to “train our children in the way they should go”.

How do we train them? We can begin training them to look to the Lord for all of their needs. Study the Word of God together, pray with your children, thank Him for the food before you each day, praise Him for the weather (even the rain and snow), when you go out into the world remind them that God created it all. If your children go to public or private school, remind them that God gave the inventors and scientists, mathematicians, politicians and teachers the ability and skill to do their jobs. In everything we do, everything we see, everything around us, God’s fingerprints are all over it. Isn’t that exciting? He made it all. He deserves all the glory, honour and praise.

When our jobs are done and we have trained our children, we can confidently cling to the promise our children will not depart from His truth. They may stumble, they may fall, but remember, they too are human. Yet, if you have raised them in the knowledge and admonishment of the Lord you have His Word. To further study how we can train our children I suggest you prayerfully study Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Take the time and make the effort to apply these verses to your family life. God loves you so much. He wants to be the focal point and the cornerstone for your family. Will you invite Him in and train your family for all eternity?

We All Have A Purpose

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul clearly states a promise God has given to all believers, everywhere in the world, across the centuries, past, present and future. Beyond that, His promises are for believers whatever your age or station in life. Hold this one tightly. Unwrap it as though it were the most precious gift-just as all the promises in the Bible are-and apply it to your life. Remember that these gifts and promises are not to place on a shelf and admire, but are to be used in your life.

Are you ready for the promise? Here it is. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

You are His workmanship- God has created you special and individual. You are not like anyone else in this world. He has designed and fashioned you to stand out and be all He has created you to be. Who are you created to be? That is something you need to take to the Lord in prayer. He is willing and able to show you if you would just ask. Seek His will and purpose for your life. He may not speak in an audible voice, but He might. He may not give you an answer in the moment you ask, but He can. The truth is we must first seek His face with a true and repentant heart. He will guide us and direct us if we will give our hearts to Him. Guard yourselves against the schemes of the devil. He is real and he wants to destroy you. If you listen to his lies you will begin to believe many things about yourself that are not true. You were created by God and God doesn't create any junk. Dear One, you are precious in God's sight. He loves you like no one else.

...created in Christ Jesus for good works-One thing I can tell you about your purpose with confidence is this; you were created for good works. Jesus came to this Earth all those years ago to show us how to live. He forgave those who hurt Him. He loved those who were in need. He healed the lame, fed the hungry, hung out with those who on the surface looked unworthy. Can we say the same? Good works can mean a range of things. The point is this. Through prayer and quiet in the Lord's presence, He will guide and direct you into the good works He has prepared for you. It is amazing what one act of kindness can do. For instance, when you take the time to smile or say hello to someone, there is the potential to make a huge impact on another life who then may make impact on another, and so on...

...which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.-From the beginning, God had a plan for your life. He created you male or female, placed you in the city, town or village in the part of the world, in the time and generation you are in for a reason. He knew what colour your hair would be, how old you would live to be and what your purpose would be. He does not want it to be a secret. Have you taken the time to truly seek His will and plan for your life. Know that His plan is perfect and when you are walking in it, there will be trials, but along with those trails come the joy of knowing the Lord.

Having a friend and personal relationship with Jesus Christ has held me up in times I felt I would be crushed under the weight of oppression I was experiencing. A personal relationship with Jesus is the one thing in life we all seek-whether we know it or not. Whatever you may be struggling with-and we all have struggles-realize that Jesus understands. If you don't believe me, read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible and see for yourself. He is there standing at the door of your heart, knocking and waiting. He is a gentleman and will not force you, but He will be there when you are ready to accept His gifts and promises.

May He be your joy and your strength. With many blessings,
Natalie

Detour Through the Desert

Has God given you a vision of what your purpose is? Is it clear in your mind; what He has called you to do? Are things progressing as you thought they would or are you faced with nagging thoughts that maybe you heard wrong? Maybe you misunderstood.

Scripture has the ability to reveal truth in a very special way. Looking back to Exodus 13:17 we see God made a distinct decision to send the children of Israel the long way around. "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.'" (NIV)

God could have chosen to send them directly to the Promised Land, but He purposefully chose the long road. If you take the time to read through the whole account of the Israelites' journey out of Egypt in the Book of Exodus, you will find that these were a "stiff-necked" people-much like ourselves-who needed training and time in the wilderness.

It is possible God has called and shown you your specific ministry, yet things are not progressing in the way you thought they would or should. You may have your own agenda and timetable set. Be patient and accept the truth. God is not about our timetable. We see time as a hindrance but God, who created time, uses it to accomplish His perfect plan. His timing is Perfect. Perfect.

There is no use wasting your time or energy kicking against it. Accept it. Embrace the challenge and allow your desert detour to shape you gracefully in preparation for whatever the Lord has ordained your ministry. Your time will come. When it does you will be ready. He will make all things beautiful in His time. You may still have to learn some hard lessons but with His grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit that works within you, none of your obedience will be in vain.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).

Gifted Workers

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministires, but the same Lord."
                                                                            ~~1 Corinthians 12: 4-5 NKJV

Within the body of believers-that is the universal church as a whole-there are many spiritual gifts. Some differ greatly from others. There may be one who is great leading children's ministry, but put them in a group of adults and they don't know what to do. The same goes with the church administration, that person is probably a whiz with numbers and keeping things running smoothly, but put them in a room chock-full of youth and they may squirm. Each of us has been gifted by the Holy Spirit to do our part. Each part put together brings a balanced body of believers together that function as the "local" church.

We all have our part to play whether we realize it or not. In the church we need and depend on those who run a Sunday service: worship leaders, musicians, prayer partners, those who give spontaneous testimonies and the pastor or the one who brings the message are just some that come to mind. Then there are those who teach Sunday school, prepare coffee and a snack for pre or post service fellowship, the prayer warriors who will pray about everything and anything someone asks them too. There are also the elders and leadership of the church. Don't forget about those who serve in other ministries that the church you attend may offer such as women's ministries, small groups, missions and local outreach, youth group leaders and so on.

Do you see how important each of these ministries-and I've only named a few-are? Each is different and has its own place, some are more out in front and others behind the scenes. However, the Lord knew the differences of each of us and has made a place for all to fit and serve Him using their own gifts. God is so amazing and I hope I never lose the sense of awe in Him and His power. He has purposed you to serve in your local body of believers. Do not despise small beginnings if you are just starting out. Have faith that He will put you exactly where you need to be. Dig in and work hard for Him. Where are you serving right now? If you aren't pray about it and trust that He will place you where you need to be. Thank Him for gifting you in whatever area it is and work for Him. Be thrilled to be part of His wonderful plan and keep you eyes on the prize: eternal life in Heaven with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Where else would you rather be?

Pictures from Spiritual Training 101 Book Launch

   My husband Rollie and I at my book table for the launch of Spiritual Training 101: Preparing for Eternity.

We had a wonderful evening! Rollie and the girls shared a skit focusing on preparing to train for a 5k run. It was much fun to watch them and listen to their way of sharing. After they finished, Marion Sabine opened the service and shared a bit about how she has mentored me and watched my growth. I was able to share my heart for this work the Lord assigned to me and how important it is for each of us to prepare for eternity. We have such a short time on this earth and our treasures really should be stored up in heaven. Our family then had the awesome privilege to minister through sharing of a few songs of praise and worship to our King. Thank you Jesus for Your call and Your giving me the strength to obey. If you would like to order either of my books, you can contact me or click on either cover to the right.

May you grow in the grace of Jesus Christ.
With many blessings, Natalie

Spiritual Training

I launched my new book Spiritual Training 101: Preparing for Eternity on Tuesday. We had a wonderful time of laughs, music and fellowship. These are the things God calls us to do; share our gifts and talents with those around us so they may see His glory shine through. Matthew 5:16 Tells us to, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (NKJV) I am excited that God has blessed our family with the gifts and talents He has and that we can do skits, share the Word and sing His praises. Thank you Lord.

God has given us all a purpose and wants for us to fulfill it. One of those things for me is to write. This book is a Bible study taking the reader on a journey with the Lord to grow in their faith and spiritual discipline. Please understand that it was a struggle for me by times because I did not just record these things, but God lead me through each one. Jesus held my hand and wiped my tears as I reached beyond myself and had faith that He would be with me. Growth is never an easy thing, but He has promised to be with us always.

Preparation is something we do for every aspect of our lives, so why not for our eternal life? It is the most important thing so shouldn't we take it more seriously and make spiritual training an essential, daily part of our lives? Spending time in His presence and pouring our hearts out to Him draws us closer and into a deep, personal relationship. That is what His desire is. John 3:16-17 say it best, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (NKJV)

Have you answered the call to His voice? Are you ready to take a leap in faith? What do you have to lose?