Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Jesus Commands Our Destiny

View from my backyard
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10
 A few weeks ago I drove past my son’s high school. The electronic sign out front caught my eye as it scrolled announcements. Graduation June 1. My son doesn’t graduate until next year, but suddenly, all the emotions of this eventuality overwhelmed me.
Life is perpetual. As much as we’d like to slow our children’s rush to adulthood at times, it’s not possible. Moving forward into the unknown is scary, but it’s the only option—for them and us.

As Christians, we’re called to walk the path the Lord created for us. Sometimes the path is rocky, steep, or meanders frustratingly slow. We blindly walk as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did, not knowing where the path leads but believing in the One who directs our steps.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Faith walking isn’t easy. Turning loose of our children isn’t easy. Trusting God for the right job or your health isn’t easy. But faith not exercised ceases to exist. We are heirs to His promise. Praise God! 
We live in earthly tents, but like Abraham, we look forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 
What are you trusting God for today? I’d love to pray with you about it. Please leave your requests in the comments section below so others can pray or email me confidential requests.
A praise report from Courtney’s FB status, the young mother with a cancerous brain tumor we have been praying for: 
WE GOT A GREAT REPORT!!!!! The spot of concern that was zapped 2 months ago with radiation, is dying off and the scan shows no new areas of growth. The doctor was very pleased! God is so good and I couldn't be any happier than I am right now! Thank you for the prayers, love and support. It means so much!
Every two months Courtney has repeat MRIs to check treatment progress. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues chemotherapy.
Prayer requests from previous weeks include job losses, home/farm foreclosure, depression, and difficult family situations. Also pray for Karen with leukemia and TC’s father-in-law with cancer. 
As we go to the Lord in prayer, take a few moments to worship Him with “In Christ Alone” by Natalie Grant. If you’re struggling spiritually, let the Holy Spirit minister to you through this amazing song.
“In Christ alone, my hope is found...” 

God bless,
Laura

17 comments:

  1. What an amazing answer to prayers, praise God!

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  2. Please pray for me as I share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with my family and neighbors. God gave me an opportunity to talk to my nephew I asked if he want to accept Jesus Christ and have a relationship with him. He said no. Please pray for Him that his dark heart will be opened to the light. Please pray for me that God will give me courage to speak the gospel.
    In him who is so able.
    Jessica

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    1. I'll be praying that your family will be more receptive to the Gospel as you share it. I pray God gives you the right words to say at an opportune time. Please stop by again and let me know how things are. God bless you.

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  3. Hi, your blog really touches me, have been reading it for a while... Just wanted you to know about a website i started ReadYourBiblesChurch.com... It's a place for Bible study guides.. I also put a forum in that can be viewed from a mobile device.. I couldn't find where to contact you privately so I'm commenting, hope that is okay. :) God Bless!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoy reading my blog. My contact info is above under the "Talk to Me" heading but this is fine, too. Thanks for sharing your website.

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  4. laura tony and i are so excited about courtney's great report!!!! PRAISE GOD!!! we will continue to pray that ALL the cancer is gone and stays gone!! we needed this good news from God almost as much as she did!
    prayer requests: tony's job need (he was told he had the job last week and then he that the partners wanted to interview more candidates and then he got a call yesterday kind of saying he had the job.......it is a MESS and we are praying God supplys a job other than this one because of all the drama and the distance from home).

    continue to pray for karen. she is doing about the same and pray for her husband to find work also.

    thanks to all who pray and God bless you all! sorry i am a day late AGAIN.

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    1. Courtney's news is great!! I'm glad it cheered you up, as well. I'm praying for Tony's job situation. I hope the right job comes along, if this one is not it. You're never late. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your requests and praying for others!

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  5. Thank you for this.... My daughter graduated last year and even though she did not go away to go to college, I still have some difficult days. I have to stand back and allow her to make her decisions and allow her to grow up. God has shown me in the past week that she had matured not just in her physical life but in her spiritual life as well. She allowed God to speak through her shy introverted self, and gave words of wisdom to a group of youth. God will give us the desires of our heart, as long as we delight in Him! Praise Him! He has a design for each of us and I do not want to get in the way!

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    1. I meant to thank you for praying for my father-in-law, he is doing much better.....and my son is doing some better, yet it looks as though we may be headed to a gastroenterologist soon. I am praying for healing and that crying to the great Physician will provide the healing he needs.

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    2. That's great, Piper! I know you are so proud of your daughter. The toughest thing for a mother is to turn loose and let them fly! I'm so glad your father-in-law is doing better, as well as your son. I pray that your son will be healed by whatever way God provides!

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  6. So, so true, Laura. The older I get the more I realize that only in heaven will all of our hopes and dreams be realized and all of the hard things be over. It is a hard thing to see a child leave home and I think the reason it's hard is because we were made for a perfect kind of community/family that we will only fully experience in heaven. Until then, people will leave us and move on and our lives will change in ways we'd rather they didn't. Thanks for having this prayer post each week. I think it's a great blog idea...I've never seen anyone else do it. And thanks for linking up with B&BB. May your week be especially blessed. Gail

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    1. Thanks, Gail. I agree. When things are in perfect balance, we strive to keep it that way, but people and situations change. We have to let our kids grow and leave when they're ready. God bless you, as well.

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  7. Hi Laura, new to your blog! Loved it, thank you for sharing your encouragment.

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm glad you stopped by and hope to hear from you again. God bless.

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  8. Praise God for His faithfulness.

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  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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