...The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, oh God. Great is your faithfulness!...
I remember singing that song in church as a little girl and not really giving it much thought except for the fact that I liked it. After today's lesson, I can't seem to get it out of my head...and for good reason! Aren't you so glad that His mercies renew every day? That they are, according to Beth Moore "...always there, available every day, prior to our need, and in direct proportion to every moment's demand..."?
I will admit the gathering part can be a little tough. Me, I'm a fairly scheduled, structured person. LOVE schedules, LOVE to plan. I just really like knowing what's coming next in any given day/month/year. I like feeling prepared. I really don't like surprises. I know, weird.
I"m sure it's not surprising that I'm also a chronic worrier (knots in my tummy, sick feeling, mild panic - you get the picture) because I'm constantly obsessed with what's going to happen tomorrow, a month from now, a year from now. Yeah...in my world tomorrow's trouble is always stealing today's joy!
I"m sure it's not surprising that I'm also a chronic worrier (knots in my tummy, sick feeling, mild panic - you get the picture) because I'm constantly obsessed with what's going to happen tomorrow, a month from now, a year from now. Yeah...in my world tomorrow's trouble is always stealing today's joy!
But slowly, and not with out some struggle and mass quantities of prayer on my part, I'm learning to let God be my daily provision and resting in the incredible knowledge that his mercies really are new every morning. I can live in the present and let tomorrow take care of itself! How amazing is His faithfulness!
What about you? Are you able to live in the moment, trusting God to be your daily provision? Do you believe his mercy and grace renew every morning? Or do you worry and fret and obsess over the future wondering how you're going to get through another day, let alone the rest of your life?
What about you? Are you able to live in the moment, trusting God to be your daily provision? Do you believe his mercy and grace renew every morning? Or do you worry and fret and obsess over the future wondering how you're going to get through another day, let alone the rest of your life?
14 comments:
Riva - thank you for joining us. You took a huge leap of faith and I love that you are trusting God with your whole situation. I know it must be hard right now not knowing what the next step is going to be, but he has a plan for you - a very special one. You will be in my prayers.
First of all...THANK YOU girls for your many words of encouragement! I appreciate it more now than ever! I have been wanting to comment before now, but honestly, I'm really dealing with some unhealthy emotions of anger & bitterness right now. (wasn't too sure what my little fingers would type!)But God is healing my heart and this study is at a perfect time. (Its amazing how going through it this 2nd time around...He is teaching me different things!) I too desire to know what is 'coming up next' in my life! I wish that I could see the BIG PICTURE! I am sooooo trying to stay focused on His Will...and not mine! I am reminded that TRUSTING Him is so important! I love BM saying, "God's measure of mercy is offered according to need...His sufficient amount of mercy and grace would be set aside for me every day of my life, an ample supply every morning! God is always sufficient in perfect proportion to our need!" He knows exactly HOW MUCH mercy & grace we need at all times! I am reminded that I really need to gather it all in and open my arms to receive it! Just when you think you cannot endure or 'make it through this one'...He is sooo faithful! Thank you Jesus. Riva...you inspire me...I love your heart...God has something amazing coming your way! I'll be lifting you up in prayer sweet one!
Riva! Thank you so much for your comment and great insight! It IS awesome to be able to lift up our burdens and let God shoulder them. What I want to know is why I always have a hard time remembering that - I always want to control the situation instead of giving it up to God despite the fact that things get so much better when I let go of that control!!*sigh* Thank goodness for God's grace!
I will be praying for your situation - I think it takes a lot of courage to follow what you hear God telling you - even if it seems impossible at the moment. God honors obedience, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for you!
Do I obsess about the future?!? Lets see here... Where will my family be in 5 - 10 years? How financially secure are we for the future? How can I dicipline appropriately so that my children will be great kids when their older? Where this, when that?
Not only do I have the problem of obsessing about the future, but I also have the problem of obsessing about the past. Why did I do this instead? If I could have only do that? Blah, blah... As if I can change any of it - right?
If I had to pin point one major stresser in my life it would be about Money. I'm not asking to be rich. I just want to be able to provide for my family without having to worry about making ends meet. I worry about what our income will be in the future - can we save, or will be living pay check to pay check? I also worry about how I spend my money. I am one who loves to spend money (wisely) on my children and other people, but won't even by myself a $10 shirt. This is a constant obsession for me. It was on day 2 that a verse really hit home with me.
"Keep your live free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
I thank God every day for blessing me with everything that I have - EVERYTHING. Now I pray that I can live in the "here and now". Meghan said it so well when she said "Tomorrow's troubles are always stealing today's joy!"
Beth Moore also said "You and I can survive anything, but we must want to." His compassion and grace is always there waiting, we just have to be willing to reach for it!
wow, what amazing insight all of you have had!! thank you SO much for sharing!!!
riva, you are a gem--a true gem straight from the heart of God! you have touched SO many lives, and God is really stirring some deep passions within you to use for His glory and His Kingdom! i can't WAIT to see all that God will do in your life and use you for!!! i'm thankful you are giving all of this craziness over to Him...
mom (tammy), i know your struggles right now... i just wish i could make everything better for you! but i know God is doing such a great work within you right now, that i'm actually thankful for all that He is bringing you through! i hate the pain you have endured (and still are enduring) but i love what God is doing in you!! praise God for being SO much bigger and better than our circumstances!!!
so, as for the question... honestly, i do tend to "live in the moment!" i don't say this w/ any sort of pride--i just hate planning. it overwhelms me!! i prefer to be spontaneous! but i am finding, as i get older, get more people in my family and have more responsibilities, i do actually long for more of a plan. so, here's where i struggle... i don't plan a lot, but then get overwhelmed in the moment still!!! instead of obsessing about tomorrow, i get overwhelmed w/ today! so, i still struggle (maybe just a little differently, if that makes sense.) but also, since i'm beginning to plan a little more these days, i do find myself getting overwhelmed with all that is in store! for instance, school... this is my BIGGEST worry right now! what will i do w/ my kids when my classes get more demanding?? i always thought i'd stay home w/ my kids! why, God, are you calling me to this now??... and on and on... so, in those moments when i am obsessing about the future and even "in the moment" when i'm overwhelmed i still need to give it to the Lord and allow Him to work things out for His good!! He has the perspective i need, an eternal one--so i must rely on Him and not myself!!
sarah, i too love the quote that says.."if you want to." so often i think we just give up and choose the negative attitude or the overwhelming feeling instead of WANTING to get through it or KNOWING and BELIEVING that God can and will bring us through it!!! it's kinda like working out, right, sarah?? you have to WANT TO!!!! you have to see the BIGGER picture and know that being faithful in the small things and CHOOSING to do the right things makes a HUGE difference over all!!!
Sara - it is like working out. Great analogy! You have to want it!
I guess that just brings up another question for myself. Why can I work so hard on getting healthy, but now so hard on my relationship with God?
This is one reason this very blog started. I knew I needed to seek him, and I "wanted" to seek him and put him first in my life.
There is nothing more assuring than knowing that God has set aside every morning my days worth of Mercy, Grace, & Compassion. I know now that he definitely doesn't give us more than we can handle!
Oh Tammy I feel your pain since I have been very hesitant to comment today as my really yuck week has got the best of me and I was afraid complete negativity would come through. As many of you have said, though, the study spoke right to me today since most of my week's stress has been because of worry over a particular situation and how it's future impact may affect my life. I have been trying to make myself ok with something that "might" happen in the future ... and starting every morning this week in tears, because of something that "might" happen is certainly "stealing today's joy".
I don't know if it is the single mom in me that just turned 39 and still doesn't see the path that God wants me to take or the can of beans I ran over pulling into my garage last night that shot it's contents like a rocket over the full length of my garage!! (I told you it has been a yuck week :-) All I know is most of the time I wake up scared to face another day. I know this is because I have let my relationship with God grow cold and my FAITH in him run dry. As I mentioned earlier in the week this study feels like God saying "quit running" ... and an unusual fly problem in my condo this week that I am beginning to think may be locust (I warned you I was feeling negative :-) tells me he is now "yelling" to stop!
It is so hard, though ... I am used to being in control, but I know if I can just step out on faith and let God be my daily provision I could find so much more joy & comfort.
You know I love quotes, so saw another today that said "Within sorrow is grace. When we come close to those things that break us down, we touch those things that also break us open. And in that breaking open, we uncover our true nature." I feel like this study is helping to "break me open". It appears that all of you are so rooted in your faith and have the support of family and/or church that I feel unworthy to be in this study with you ... but then I remember the words I love "each one teach one" ... so I'll keep reading your inspirational thoughts so that I may remember that His mercy and grace does renew every morning .... thank you lovely ladies.
Tawnya - Can I just say HOLY COW!!! In the first week of the study I realized that Satan counteracts everything that God does. I think Satan doing a number on you right now.
You are an amazing friend, mother, and sister. And you are NOT unworthy of doing this study with us by ANY means!
I've struggled with my faith for some time now and prayed about how to get closer to him. I came up with doing this blog, but I thought it would be too much for me to do on my own. I know now why I came to ask two of my dearest friends to help me out (aren't they amazingly spiritual women?!?)
We all three have been through a lot of the same struggles, but we all three have different backgrounds and handle things differently. We are here to let you know that you have our support and help to find your very own pathway back to God.
He's calling you... I know you hear it... stop... and listen! (Trust me you're not alone, I'm learning to listen myself!)
I love hearing your thoughts, especially Tawnya. Thank you for being honest about your week (and the can of beans!) This week has had some challenges for me too, but seeing into the details of yours has made me see God's love for all his children. While I'm trying to unpack & settle into a home and pack for a two week overseas conference, God is wrapping his arms around each of you in your daily struggles. He is right now providing for each of us in our weakness. And, by the way, since I don't really know most of you personally, I was feeling a bit out of place in this study. Could it be that Satan is trying to convince us (individually) that we don't belong together!
Here's my answer to the original post:
So I'm a scheduled person too. I'm always preparing for the future (buying Christmas gifts as early as Jan for the following year is one example) :) I don't think this in itself is wrong, but I do love the focus of God on the daily! Daily bread, and daily mercies. I can have a freezer full of meals for the month, and still rely on God for my daily needs. (After all, it is only his provision that allows me to have the security of a place to put a freezer and the electricity to keep it cold). So, for now, I'm going to try and just focus on each day--his provisions and his merices!
it is overwhelming to me to have the privilege of getting to know you ladies more!!..
tawnya, i'm not sure exactly where you're at, but i am SO thankful God has brought YOU into this community we have.. and you better believe it was not by accident!! thank you for your honesty, thank you for being willing to be vulnerable and share with us... this is a safe place and a place where a bunch of sinners are getting together to share struggles, laugh, cry and pray together!! NO ONE is unworthy to be in this group.. well, actually, we are ALL unworthy of the love that God has lavishly given us, but He takes care of that!!! He's given us Jesus to clothe ourselves in and become righteous--worthy.... sarah is right, you have our support, prayers and love!!! please continue to share and let us know if there is anything you need and just how we can pray for you!
i also agree with danielle, i too have wondered if the enemy isn't targeting each of us individually trying to pull us away from experiencing God and His community!! let's keep coming together and sharing in God's Word!!!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
thanks for sharing, sisters!
I loved this day's study as much as the day before. The manna from God is such a beautiful illustration of the way that he provides for us each day. As I tried to picture myself as an Israelite, living in a tent, getting used to one day's provision - I simply could not put myself in that perspective. I so wish that I could. Right now I'm wondering - how long will we live in an apartment, when will my home sell, how long will I stay at my job, should I try to find another school, etc. It is so much more important for me to look at what God has given me that day and be grateful. How much more would I know God if I truly did wait on His provision each day.
Ladies - thank you for sharing your lives through this study. I know that we are all learning so much from each other and from God's amazing stories.
Tawyna-
I am SO glad you are in this group with us! From the first moment I ever met you I've loved your insight and your sense of humor and your uncanny ability to make even the prickliest of people feel welcomed and comfortable.
I am just moving out of a period of coldness and faithlessness. You are not alone. I know that dead, empty feeling so well. I'm ashamed to say that up until a few months ago, I wasn't even sure that I could call myself a Christian. I certainly wasn't acting like one or even trying to have any sort of relationship with Jesus. The thought of potentially being the wife of a pastor seemed laughable to me (and still does, really) because the state of said relationship with Jesus was virtually non-existent! How could God be calling my husband to plant a church with a wife who wasn't even a Christian! Was He planning on offing me so that Todd would be free to marry the real woman who was supposed to be his help-meet in this situation? I know, a ludicrous thought, I've never claimed to not be crazy...and I just had a baby so my brain is a bit frazzled anyway...but still!
I feel so susceptible to Satan's whispering in my ear. He taunts me constantly saying, "You will never be pretty enough, smart enough, a good enough parent, a good enough friend so why even try...nobody likes you...your past is too much for even Jesus to forgive..." and so on and so forth. And sadly, for so long, I've believed him!
I can't even pinpoint the exact moment I decided I was done listening to that. I just know that I was desperate! Like you, I've been running for a long time. I'm still running, only now I'm running straight to Jesus. I'm done feeling empty and lonely and trying to get my identity from what the world thinks - it's wasn't working for me, obviously..I'm a mess! And I'm still a huge work in progress and always will be - a hard concept for me to grasp because I still can't believe that I don't have to be perfect for Jesus to love and forgive and extend grace to.
Yikes! What a rambling comment! I hope this all made sense - sometimes I have a hard time articulating what I'm thinking in my head. I think mostly I just want you to know how much we ALL struggle with the same things and that you are most definitely not by yourself in thinking or feeling the way you do! I hope through this blog we can be a source of encouragement for you and a sounding board for you - a place where you can vent and let it all hang out so to speak!
Maeve-I often think about you and wonder how you're doing..you've had so many major life changes in recent months! And this has nothing to do with the bible study...I just wanted to let you know that Iris talks all the time about what a beautiful bride you were! She hopes that in Heaven there are "beautiful flowers like Miss Maeve carried".:)
You will be in My Prayers and thoughts riva.
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