Obedient to carry it out

Do you ever feel burdened or compelled to carry out a task? Something that just becomes so heavy on your heart to do? This past month or so I’ve had something like this, an urging on the inside that I cannot ignore, but to choose to be obedient to what God asks of me even when it seems hard. He knows what I can handle and gives me the strength to do it. This task became hard because of the reminder of the emotional baggage that came with it, I found myself asking God to lighten the load and I was tempted to ask if there was a way I could stop doing as He asked me, the task was one that I wanted to do, but I couldn’t block my emotions from it. It was giving and loving with no return, to continue to pray for someone without really seeing results myself but trusting that God was at work. It became draining trying to pour myself into someone who didn’t really care. As I was whining to God, He gave this picture of His love. How He constantly loves and gives to people who reject it or are ignorant to it. But that doesn’t stop God from loving and for pursuing His people. I then realized that I was looking at it selfishly, if God can constantly pour Himself into people, love people, give to people and die for people who reject Him, I can strive to do the same for someone who rejects me. I’m amazed at how deep our Father’s love is, that rejection never stops His compassion- what true love He has for us! I would encourage you to continue being obedient even when it seems hard, there is a purpose God has laid that task on your heart, and He will help you carry it out.
“You are their glorious strength. It pleases You to make us strong.” Psalm 89:17

He calls me Hephzibah

A couple weeks ago the word “Hephzibah” kept coming across my path, I knew it was in the Bible but I didn’t know where and I didn’t know what it meant. I felt God was bringing this word to my attention for a purpose so I looked it up, “Hephzibah” in Hebrew means “The Lord’s delight is in her.” It is used in Isaiah 62 “The LORD will hold you in His hand for all to see- a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be Hephzibah, “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as His bride.”  Verses 3-4 a little further down in the second part of verse 5 its says “Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.”

            I was thrilled to find the meaning of Hephzibah, there definitely was a reason God kept bringing it up. Not so much now but in the past I have struggling much with believing the deception that I was ugly, unwanted, alone and unworthy of love. God has faithfully revealed His truth to me that I have value in Him, to Him I’m beautiful and wanted- He chose me, and if I didn’t have worth He wouldn’t have sent His Son to die so I could be saved, whole, peaceful and healed. His love is so great.

            Now that I know that truth, there are still times satan tries to remind me of that old deception I once believed. Whether it be from something someone said, a broken relationship, or just how I feel I look that day. But now I have weapons to fight back with! J God’s Word says that I am the head and not the tail, above and never beneath, no weapon formed against me can prosper, greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world, everything I put my hand to prospers, I’m seated with Christ in Heavenly places, I’m the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, I’m fearfully and wonderfully made and I am God’s masterpiece. And now- I know God calls me Hephzibah, no longer forsaken or desolate, but a girl in whom He delights. Now that’s powerful! Zephaniah 3:17 says “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a Mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

            Our Mighty Savior rejoices over you with gladness! It doesn’t matter what you see when you look in the mirror, what someone has said about you, or who has given you up- you are a precious jewel to God, and He takes delight in you- He calls you Hephzibah! Don’t believe satan’s deception like I once did- know the truth and throw it back at the enemy when he’s trying to get you down. You are beautiful, loved, wanted, and very much valued in God’s eyes. The very God who created the earth thought about you, wanted you, created you, and has a plan for you. He made you good- other people’s opinions should nolonger matter, because created you with a purpose, you are His masterpiece.

Song of Songs 1:4

The last year God has taken me on an amazing faith journey. I moved away from home for the first time and started to attend Rhema Bible Training Center. God has shown me much in the past year and continually revealed His heart andWord to me. After moving away, my eyes became open to all the oppurtunitys that are available to me now. I used to be quite the home body, so it suprised even me when I moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, I love my family to pieces but I'm so glad I did. I kind of see is as the time that I finally took God out of the box I put Him in. And now I want to run with Him, wherever He leads I want to follow. I've never been so hungry to serve than I have been this past year. It is my hearts desire to serve God through serving my spouse (who i believe will be in ministry) and I found myself waiting to really get into ministry until I could join my husband in a minstry team. God got my attention one day and simply told me "You don't have to wait, you have been called too". This has motivated me to start serving and doing minstry now, instead of waiting to join my spouses team. I feel strongly led to do a mission trip in the near future, especially to Haiti. I know that God is able to provide the resources and the finances for this to come to pass. I'm excited for any mission oppurtunitys to come now and in the future. There's a song that is called "Set the World On Fire" and a line that says "I wanna feed the hungry children, and reach across the farthest land. Tell the broken there is healing and mercy in the Father's hand" that line describes the cry of my heart, I think it kind of goes along with Isaiah 61 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that capitives be releasesed and prisoners will be  freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD'S favor has come, and with it the day of God's anger against their enemies. to all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory." verses 1-3. I want to do that, I want to be God's tool that He uses regardless of where it takes me. But I know it will be good, if I'm walking alongside my God, it's only good ahead.  Song of Songs 1:4 says "Draw me after You and let's run together!" thats the plan- I want to draw near to God and run with Him :)