Why Ask Why

Why can’t I have peace? Why can’t I rest?
I pray and I tithe, when will I be blessed?
Why do I have to fight, why am I always at war?
Why is it that when I am right, I am persecuted all the more?
Why isn’t this easy? Why is this life so tough?
Why does no one believe me? Why do I want to give up?
Why can’t I quit, why do I strive?
When the world is against me, how do I survive?

It’s not because I’m good. It’s because of His mercy.
How he shields me from everything that tries to hurt me.
It’s not because I am powerful. It’s not because I have might.
It’s because I let go and let God – It’s not my fight.
It’s not because I’m sinless or because I do no wrong.
It’s because He that is in me is mighty, powerful and strong.

If Jesus is my portion, how can I be distressed when I can go to a place in the Lord and find rest?
If I have all the answers why am I clueless? If I know the right path, why must I go through this?
Why is the flesh so weak, why does it war against spirit?
Why is the truth so easy to speak and so hard to hear it?

Why? Why? Why? I’ll understand by and by.
Well when will that be? Meanwhile I’m battling hate, jealousy and envy?
When? When? When?
When my enemies are all around me and I’m left without a friend?

I know that I am not alone because He is always by my side.
He is my love, my ears and my guide.
He is the source of my strength joy hope and love. When I look for my help I set my eyes above.

Help me to be patient as I am waiting.
Help me to be quiet in the midst of the riot.
Help me to call you and only you. Help me to trust me to get me through.
I know you hear me because you said you would never leave me or forsake me and you are sending all these trials to build me not to brake me.

So I say thank you. Thank you for the sun, thank you for the rain. Thank you for my health, thank you for my pain. Thank you for my change and you being the same.
Why ask why and why complain?

Lift It Out

“Lift it Out”
(2 Kings 6 1-7)

Elisha and the prophets were on their way to Jordan because their meeting place was too small. Along the way, they began to cut down trees. One of their axe heads fell into the water. Now remember back then, axe heads were usually tied onto wooden sticks with strings.

The man cried out “Oh. My Lord” and explained that the axe was borrowed. Elisha stuck out his stick into the water and it began to float. The man called on the Lord because the axe that he was using didn’t belong to him. It was loaned to him and he was expected to return it.

Right now, a lot of us are “on our way to Jordan”. We decided that we were not comfortable we were so we decided to move. We decided that we wanted to expand our territory. It may be spiritual, financial, economical or whatever the case may be but we decided that our “space was too small”.

I just want you to know that along the way you will experience adversities. You may even begin to sink but do as the man in the illustration did and cry out “Oh My Lord” and you too will begin to float. Who ever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In this story an iron fixture began to float. Iron doesn’t float. It just doesn’t happen. Its chemical makeup will not allow it to. But God came to do the impossible. Regardless of the statistics or the odds against you – God is able to save your sinking situation. All you have to do is invite him in.

There is no situation that can weigh you down so far that He can not lift you up out of it.!

Once the axe head began to float, Elisha told the man to “Lift it Out”.

That’s what we must do. We must move when it’s time for us to elevate. During our move and facing adversities, we must call on our present help in time of trouble to rescue us. Once He sticks His power into the situation we must be prepared to see the way He is making for us.

Finally, once we have His direction, we should lift ourselves “out” of the situation. Remove yourself out of the stress, the depression, the debt, the abusive relationship, etc.. The man didn’t get into the water to retrieve his axe head. He removed his axe head from the water.

This short story is symbolic. Sometimes, we think that in order to straighten out a situation we need to “get to the bottom of the situation”. No we do not! It is not our job to immerse ourselves in the cares of the world. Just call him and “Lift it out”.

Have You Ever Missed God?

Let me tell you what happened to me today... For a few weeks now (actually longer than that) I have been asking God questions - mainly the same one over and over again and waiting for Him to answer. During my waiting period, I discussed the matter with others whenever the opportunity presented itself. I didn't go around asking people how they thought they would handle the situation but whenever they mentioned it - I talked, talked, talked and then talked some more about it. It got to the point where I didn't have a problem but the problem had me. I know I should have just left the matter between me and God but I didn't.

Anyway, today I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired and said to God that I needed to Hear Him clearly and if I didn't hear from Him I had no clue what I would do. I started not to go to service like I do every Tuesday afternoon just because I had so much on my mind and knew today was the 2nd of 3 weeks of prayer. I didn't want to be called on to pray like I always am (I know that's not right...). I just wanted to hear a word from the Lord. Anyway, I reasoned that if the minister asked if anyone wanted special prayer that I would get some. Afterall, I felt myself beginning to grow week.

They hardly ever call for special prayerduring this particular service although there is always someone there to pray for you before and after service if you need it.. But thank God the offer was extended today. I got into the prayer line reasoning within myself that I wouldn't be specific about my request. When my turn approached in the line the minister stopped, anointed my head with oil, stared at me and said that she heard the voice of God told her to tell me to obey Him and not man. She said that God told her to tell me to listen to Him and His voice.

I just laughed to myself because I have been asking Him all week to let me hear "His undeniable voice". I expected God to speak to me on my terms. I wanted Him to litterally blot it out and make it crystal clear to me what His will was concerning the matter. Not only did I want Him to do this but I also wanted Him to do it exactly as He always had. Thank God it's not about my will but His will. He knows what's best.

When God had to show me once again that He is not Burger King and I can't always have it my way right away, I became disappoined and felt that God was stringing me alone holding the answers and making me wait. Then once again, He checked me. He had me to recall the the bible story in 1 Kings 19:11-13 where Elijah was on the run going through a tough time and waiting to hear from God. He was looking for God in earthquakes, mountains and winds but when God finally did come it was in a still, small voice. I too thought that because my problem seemed so big that I needed God to do something big but the smallest Word from the Lord is bigger than any problem.

The preacher's statement caused me to sit back, think how many times has God clearly spoken to me and I missed it because I was looking for thunder and lighting.... deep isn't it?

Have you ever missed God because He didn't come like you expected Him to come or missed His answer because it wasn't the answer you were looking for?


Shanita Waters
By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author
www.waterplantgrowth.com
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First Lady In Last Place Chapter One

Some time ago I decided to start a blog dedicated to "writing the enemy's wrongs". In this blog, I promised to share with you the ups and downs on my journey to spead the gospel through my writing. I've actually begun working on my sophmore novel, which is tentively entitled First Lady In Last Place. I'd like to share the first chapter with you. Please keep in mind that this is a rough draft of the first version and I am posting it for feedback only.

Let me know what you think

Chapter One

Contentment In The Valley

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philipians 4:10-13 NIV)

In this life, there will be times when we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that we wish we didn't have to endure. The comfort in the matter is that as Born Again, Blood Washed Believers - We don't have to go through them alone. Being saved does not shield us from trouble. But having Christ on our side assures us that whatever life throws our way that we can overcome because He said that we are more than conquerors.

Just this week I was faced with an incredibly difficult decision. The decision I had to make would not just affect me but my family, friends and those closely connected to me. I know my family and friends love me and want the best for me but there are some decisions that we have to make for ourselves. Our loved ones want the best for us and they love us but Jesus loves us more. That's why we are to acknowledge God in all of our ways so that He can direct our paths. As wise and knowledgeable as people may be, they don't know what every part of the puzzle looks like - only God knows.

I've come to the conclusion that there are some things that we are just going to have to go through. When we enlisted in this Christian army, we knew that we were going to have to take some hits. We knew that the enemy wasn't fighting a fair fight but waging a guerrilla warfare. Yet, once immersed in battle we often find ourselves ready to retreat. There is no turning back. There is no time to give way to the enemy. If we give him an inch we'll take a mile. So we have to steadfast firm in what we believe.

Because I know that I can make it with Jesus, those valleys aren't so low anymore. Jesus lifts me up. I may not have everything I want the way I want it but He supplies all of my needs. I stand complete in Him. I may even still physically be in the same place with the same dilemma I was in when I started but spiritually and supernaturally - I'm elevated above it all.

When we find ourselves beginning to grow discouraged and tired in well doing we must remember that the Word of God tells us that we will reap if we faint not. That means that we have to continue to press even when we don't feel like pressing or see an end in sight. That means that we have to learn to be content when everything around us is beginning to look bleak. Only Jesus can give us that contentment in the valley.