Day 408 of Giving Thanks

All weekend I was confronted with the coming of a New Year; and, traditionally, like most Americans, that is a time of setting goals and making plans to reach them. As this the New Year approaches, many thoughts come into my mind. What will I do in this coming year? Is the question really, “What will God do in this new year with me? How will God use me? Am I doing the right things? And, the biggest question of all for me right now is “What is my purpose?”

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Last year I was planning something totally different than this year. I had been on a journey that seemed to be “right on track”, I had everything “in order” and things were “moving along nicely”. And, somehow things have changed; I am on an entirely different path. And, no matter how hard I try, I cannot quantitatively figure out how things changed so quickly and drastically. All I can say, is God happened.

There is a part of me that longs to mourn the change, or the loss, but God has done a work in my heart, and there seems to be no need for that. Not yet, or not now anyway. I can only get through my day because of the mighty presence of God. Thank You Lord for providing the Holy Spirit in me, so that I can have a direct line to You every day, all day and every moment. What a wonderful assurance I have.

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go (and He did go), I will send him to you.” ~John 16:7

Today, as I reach out to God, I speak His name and immediately, I am comforted. All my failures and all my dreams that did not come to fruition seem to be distant and not so important any more. There is, in that place, a renewed spirit of adventure in me. So, I will ask again, “How will God use me and What is my purpose?”  Whatever you have for me Lord, I am assured, that…

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In the times when failure overwhelms me, lack of direction or loneliness takes over, it is important to remember that He came in body, only to leave in body, but remains in spirit…the Holy Spirit.

“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:30-33

I can find relief in His presence and a mighty peace before His throne. At any moment, of any day, I can be with my creator. And, He is there whenever I need Him, all I have to do is call to Him.

“Look at this: look Who got picked by God! He listens the split second I call to Him.” ~ Psalm 4:3

‎"With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”" ~Psalm 91:16

Let us all know that we have God on our side. How awesome is that?

If I am down – all I have to do is look up and He will lift me to Him.
If I am alone – I just call to Him and I will be in His presence.
If I am afraid – I just ask and He will go ahead of me.
If I am in the dark – His light is perfect and readily available to me.

The New Year is a great time to celebrate, and every day is a day to revel in God’s victory in my life... there is so much God has given me, and all is available to you.

KNOW THIS. He is waiting for you to call on Him for help. You have never been alone, and He desires you to know that He is the one that can relieve that stress. He already did the work, you just have to believe that the work was done on your behalf. There is an amazing truth and power in the realization of that.

What does that mean?

For me I know that I cannot live a life worthy of God on my own, alone. So, He requests that we invite Him in. Allow His presence to take away the loneliness and give all the strength required to live this life.

"God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life." ~John 3:16

"My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.  Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.  See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in You.

"Deliver Israel (ME), O God, from all their (MY)  troubles!” ~Psalm 25:15-22

I am grateful for the outstretched hand of God – total access, 24/7 to the mighty God, creator of the universe, lover of me.

Day 407 of Giving Thanks - Guest Writer, Troy White

Troy has been a contributor with Wonderfully Made since the Summer, and has been a great part of the team. He is a man after God's heart and will in his life, a family man and a business owner, whose love for God is very recognized when you talk to him or read his notes. There is much wisdom, as there has been much growth. Thank you Troy for being an encourager, not only for me, but for so many on the Wonderfully Made page.

Wow, Christmas Again: As we reflect on Christmas and Christmas past we need to ask ourselves,  are we closer to the Lord this Christmas than when were first saved and how do we determine that?

When I first was born again I was so excited.  I wanted everyone I knew to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. In the beginning of my walk, my excitement wasn't received with equal enthusiasm, quite the contrary.  My fire for the Lord was confronted head on by satan and his demonic help.  

This was where my growth began. Since that first Christmas as a Christian many things have changed. My understanding and love for the Lord has truly grown but not the way I would have thought it to happen.  In the beginning, I fell in love with the Lord because of how it made me feel.  When the attack came from the enemy, my feelings weren't so positive.  This led me to reach outside of myself to try and discover a deeper connection than just my feelings.  That's when I discovered Christian friends as well as a Christian mate.  This endured for a time, but like my feelings these relationships also came under attack resulting in a bruised faith at best.

Well, God is Good.  As I shake my head at the years of trials and, seemingly defeats, I have asked God to help me make sense of all of this.  My friends, He answered me.  In the quiet time of desperation, He spoke to my heart and I want to share it with you this Christmas as my Christmas gift to all of you.

He wants a personal, intimate and exclusive relationship with me.....and with you, all of you.  I know this is not new to any of us as Christians but I'm here to tell you it's different than I've ever known before.  He wants us to count on Him even, and especially when, we cannot count on others.  He wants us to know He loves us and desires to prosper us.  This world is the way it is because sin exists and as long as it does, we will suffer trial and tribulation.  The key is to walk by faith and not by sight.  To do this He has to develop our faith.  How?

Every time we've entered into battle with satan we had an opportunity to increase and grow our faith which is the only way we can please the Lord.  He uses the difficulties in life to make us more dependent on Him, strengthening our relationship with Him. So I therefore pause to ask myself this question.  Why am I scratching my head and wondering why bad things continue to come my way?  Of course, the Lord wants to position me in a righteous relationship with Him so He can bless me and empower me to live the abundant life He has died for. My personal struggles have led me into a deeper more dependent relationship than I've ever had before.  Folks it's summed up like this;

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Since obtaining a deeper relationship with the Lord I want you to know that things are changing.  In the midst of the most challenging year of my life He brought me to you, ant it started by getting involved with Wonderfully Made; a ministry that allows me to be used by God and I know have friends that will be my friends forever.  And the best is yet to come and I long to live the testimony. 

I want all of my family to make it to Heaven.   I want all my friends to make it to Heaven.  And from the heart of God, I want all of God's children to make it to Heaven.  May God's indwelling Spirit rise up in all of you, empowering you to be anointed to do the will of our Father and Lord, Jesus Christ.  May this Christmas 2010 be the Christmas you decide to win, by drawing closer to the baby in the manger who has already won. :-)

Merry, Merry Christmas to All of You,

I love and treasure you all!

Troy White