Wait, How Long??!

Today, I would like to discuss patience, everyone’s favorite word! Patience is defined as bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like. The Lord calls us to be patient not only in the small things (ie: traffic!) but also in the big things.  I think Abraham is an extraordinary example for us to study in this area.  First, let me say that summarizing Abraham’s journey does not do the story justice.  I encourage you to go and read Genesis as soon as you get the chance. Until then, here’s a quick overview:

In Genesis 15, the Lord promises Abraham he will have an heir, a son, and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Despite his old age, Abraham believed. God revealed that Abraham’s descendants would be slaves for 400 years and the 4^th generation would receive the blessing of the promised land.  Finally, Sarah gives birth to Isaac, the son that God promised Abraham, in Ch 20 when Abraham is 100 years old!

Often, I grow impatient just waiting for the red light to change on my way to work but Abraham waited until he was 100 years old for the Lord’s promise of a son to be realized.  In addition, he never personally saw the promised land, that blessing came 400 years later.  My question to you is… how much do you truly trust God’s timing?  As we approach the end of the year, many of us will be reflecting on the goals we set for the year, what we have accomplished, and where we feel that we have fallen short.   I would like to encourage you not to grow discouraged in the blessings you are still waiting on but to rejoice in the blessings that the Lord has bestowed on you in the past 12 months.  Don’t forget to also cherish God’s promises, because they will be fulfilled in His perfect timing.

Prayer:
Lord, I praise you for every single blessing you have bestowed on me in 2012.  I thank you for your kindness, your grace and your perfect timing.  Please help me to stay focused on your word and your promises.  Amen.

Red and Blue Prayers

Today, is the day that so many Americans have anticipated for so many months, ELECTION DAY!  There has been much preparation and much persuasion. Finally, today, we the citizens of this great United States of America will have the opportunity to cast our votes and make our voices heard! What a blessing it is to live in a democracy where we have a choice of who leads us.

With that being said, we get to choose, but there are no perfect choices.  We must choose between two men that are as imperfect as any of us. When I read the poem below it resonated with me and I am compelled to share it.

Imagine your life were an open book.

Every conversation recorded. Every errant word written down. Every gaffe broadcast before all.

What if everything you ever did was fair game?

What if every action and every decision were held up to the severest scrutiny?

What if all your last minute apologies failed to satisfy?

How would you feel to realize someone knew everything about your past? And someone was chronicling everything about your present?

How would you like to face a barrage of questions for every inconsistency in your life?

What a fearful proposition: anything you ever say or ever do can, and often will, be held against you. If an adversary so desired, he could paint an ugly picture of any of us. And without resorting to lies.

It’s a scary thought to think that your whole life could be an open book. With defenses that do not hold, and sorry’s that do not stick, and excuses which only make things worse.

That’s politics.

And that’s the day of judgment without the blood of Christ.

~Kevin DeYoung from www.thegospelcoalition.org

Wow! I would not dare to advise any reader of how to vote, only that you should vote.  Once you have voted, pray for both of these leaders and their families.  Regardless of the outcome of the election, what this country truly needs is believers doing what we are called to do in Matthew 28:19, making disciples of all nations.  It is our responsibility to build up those around us and to pray for our God given authorities whether they are Republican or Democrat.  1 Timothy 2:1-3 leaves no room for doubt on God’s will in this area,  ¹ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

Please join me in praying for our country, Pres. Obama, Gov. Romney and their families today and in the coming days.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that your will be done in today’s election.  I pray that you would bless the families of each candidate and that you would give them grace, strength and perseverance for what lies ahead.  I pray that you would use the next President of the United States of America to advance your Kingdom and bring you Glory.

Amen.

Identity: What Defines You?

Today, I would like to share with you a message that God has been reiterating in my life for several weeks! Finally, I have embraced the message and want to share it with you. I say the Lord has been sharing this with me for weeks but in reality it may have been months or even years. However, my husband’s words seemed to come out of the clear blue sky and smack me in the face, “You find your self-worth in busy-ness.” I was stunned for a moment and although, my initial thought was, “No I don’t!” I couldn’t bring myself to deny his accusation out loud, so instead, I pondered his statement. Could this be true? In the following weeks, it seemed like every sermon and devotional I read was pertaining to this topic in some way or another. Clearly, the Lord was speaking straight to me. Josh, my husband, was correct. I do find fulfillment in completing my checklist and getting as much productivity out of a day as humanly possible. This is not necessarily the problem. The problem is when the desire to complete a task turns into a need to complete that when unmet creates frustration and stress. That need, when unmet, leaves me feeling defeated and sad.

So, what is the lesson that God is teaching me? MY WORTH AND VALUE ARE FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE! My worth is not based on how many tasks get accomplished in a day or how many daily goals I meet. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” The word new in the second portion of the verse is from the Greek word Kainos, meaning something just made which is unlike anything else in existence. Therefore, I am unlike anything else in existence! I am unique and precious to God and so are you because when we accepted Christ as our Savior, we became NEW creations. Why would I measure my value based on what I get accomplished in a day, when God says, prior to any of my checklists, I am precious! Goals and productivity are certainly good things, but it is critical to remember that there is nothing on this earth that can determine your value. Your value has already been established and does not require a specific job, social circle, or accomplishing any tasks. 

I challenge you to ask yourself the question, How do I define my value?? Pray over the answer and then take action to change any unbiblical thinking in this area of your life.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that my daily focus would be to glorify you in everything I do. I pray that you would reveal to me the things in my heart that are not pleasing to you. Please help me to always remember that my true identity is in you alone. Amen

What's in a Name?

Greetings to each of you!

I am so excited to write to you for the first time ever!!  What better way to kick-off my new blog than by exploring the blog name?  The color pink represents femininity, compassion and love. As women, each of us expresses our femininity in our own unique way.  We are compassionate to each other and we love deeply.  Faith is the fundamental requirement of a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Faith is the foundation for our dreams.  It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).  Today represents the present.  Today is a call to immediate action and not procrastination.  Combine these three words and the result is compassionate, loving, women who are rooted in faith that take immediate action and live each day to the fullest, Pink Faith Today.

As women we are held to a very high standard!  We feel pressure to climb the corporate ladder, serve in ministry, maintain a clean home, be perfect mothers, serve our husbands, be master chefs, maintain a professional image, and be spiritually minded all while looking like Barbie!  However, we have to take a step back and examine the word of God to determine what He has called us to be.  My blog will give us a chance to come together and encourage each other through personal experiences and truth. I’m looking forward to a fun journey with you!

 
Take some time to meditate on the blog name and decide what Pink Faith Today means in your life and share your thoughts below!