Devotional Christian » God’s plan

Immovable!

Patricia Day — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:56:11 +0000

I needed to shampoo my hair, but the shampoo would not cooperate. I had shaken the container once, twice and more times – each shake progressively more vigorous than before; but the shampoo remained unmoved inside! I wanted to give it freedom; admittedly a freedom to benefit me.

It reminded me of times when I had remained unmoved in my thinking. When I had approached a crossroad in my life, refusing to take another path; preferring to stay where I was.

God attempts to shake us up. He wants us to move from our comfort zones and reach out and trust His promise. He wants us to share Him and His longing to give us more than we can imagine while here on earth, as well as an eternal kingdom filled with His freedom!

Instead, we often stubbornly refuse to cooperate? We choose to remain stuck – unmoved – snug inside our bodies and our mind sets. We are either comfortable or we are stuck! Either one can keep us from the growth and the amazing blessings that God wants us to enjoy!

Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom, which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (NKJV)

Prayer: Abba, we seek Your guidance and ask that you keep shaking us up in order to get our attention to what You need us to do for You. Amen

Patricia Day, Innisfil, Ontario

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Shelter from the Storms

Patricia Day — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:20:38 +0000

Life can deliver some pretty horrendous ‘storms’. Storms of nature can often be survived, by taking shelter inside or under sturdy structures that will not succumb to the powerful forces of nature.

Psalm 55:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. (NKJV)

The storms and troubles that beset us as humans can be many, and we might flounder and seek guidance from wrong sources. When we are overwhelmed by the ‘stuff’ of our lives and we feel we have nowhere to run to, or anyone to turn to, let us remember that God can and does offer us complete spiritual and emotional safety and protection. To receive this we need to welcome Him into our lives and trust Him. We need to cover ourselves with His armour each and every day, giving thanks for all that we have – family, friends, homes and work.

I am lax at times, in doing this – but as my day struggles to begin I quickly realize that I have allowed myself to become distracted with a myriad of routines that quickly devour the peace of each day, if I allow them to.

I then quietly settle my thinking and focus on donning the helmet of salvation; the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth. I ‘place’ the shoes of the gospel of peace on my feet and pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit, take a deep breath and THEN begin my day again; this time with right thinking and with God’s purpose. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Prayer: Father God, in our efforts to be good and faithful, we sometimes get caught in the deluge of lifes’ storms. Help us to seek and find the right shelter; discern best help as well as, the safest place to be that we might be protected from all that is not of You. In Jesus Name. Amen

Patricia Day

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

No related posts.

MOTIVATE Me Oh Lord, To Sow

Hariette Petersen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:37:13 +0000

I know for a fact that sometimes (many times), I do things to receive a smile, a surprised elation, an expression of gratitude from whomever I treat kindly. I watch for a show of appreciation. I know this because when it doesn’t occur, I feel wounded. That, my friends, is not love, nor kindness. It is flat-out selfishness. So, I find that when God gives me the seed of an idea to show kindness and love, then He blesses my action through His Spirit as I obey. Love is not self-seeking, it simply loves because it can do no different. When I don’t plant that seed and sow it where I am, it is sin, because when you know what to do and don’t do it, it is the same thing as knowing what not to do and doing it. Needless to say, I sin a lot in a day. Praise God for His mercy and grace. Like the old hym says, “Without Him I would be nothing; like a ship without a sail.”

It is God…

“who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” 2 Timothy 1:9

Grace saves us. And that same grace is our motivating force. Sometimes I am amazed at that little voice within that urges me to reach out and touch another in my day. Sometimes I walk away wondering what possessed me to do a specific thing. Then I realize it was of God. His Spirit reveals to me ways to be light in a dark world. When I act upon what is revealed, I become the salt He wants to use to season and add flavor to a tasteless society empty of nutrients, starving for love.

God is unbelieveably awesome. He intricately lives with us each day and guides us in His righteousness for His sake. He weaves a tapestry of goodness of which Christians are a thread to add color and meaning. He has it all figured out. He knows the plans He has for my life as I pick and choose where I go in any given day. He knows where I plan to walk and where I plan to stop and rest. As I make my schedule, He has inked-in divine appointments for me to play a part. He places various people He wants me and, me alone, to show compassion, empathy and encouragment in circumstances I encounter. I find that exciting.

When you think about today and what comes your way, I pray you have the discernment to see the ways the Spirit reveals His will. It could be a very exciting day to let go of ourselves and simply be all He has created us to be. To love others as He loved us…first. Think about it.

When others are mean, we can show kindness. When others are impatient, we can show patience. When others say discouraging things, we can encourage. When others are selfish, we can share what we have. When others ignore someone, we can notice them, smile, and say hello. When others reject us, insult us, betray us, we can accept, love and forgive. We may never know in our lifetime, how some small thing we do today will reap benefits for His kingdom. But we do know that Scripture says,

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

We Are In It Together

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:40:39 +0000

When a team plays a game. When a country goes to war. When a crew builds a house. When a church is planted. Each person has a specific contribution to make to another within the whole. So often in relationships we have expectations of what another will give to us, of what we will receive. We take for granted that we will give to another our best, be as diligent and loyal as necessary. For a team to succeed, a country, a crew or congregation–each person is just as responsible to the relationship as others. As Christians we’re more than ourselves. We are part of the body of Christ. Peter knew this when he wrote:

“As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5

Christ died and rose again and ascended into heaven to sit at the right-hand side of God the Father. He was the Cornerstone to the Church. We are as precious to the Father as Jesus was. Jesus was rejected by men, but chosen by God. We also are like living stones–being built into the spiritual house of God. We are called to be a holy priesthood, just as Jesus was the chief Priest. God wants our spiritual sacrifices just as He wanted Jesus to be the acceptable physical attoning sacrifice. He asks us to live for Him.

Just live. Through Him, love. Through Him, forgive. Through Him, reconcile. Through Him, restore. Through Him, stand.

As Believers we live through Jesus Christ…He in us, we in Him. Spiritually, we positionally sit with Him in heaven just as surely as we sit here on earth.

What joy to know we are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We are righteous through Christ. We are set apart and made holy through Christ. The world rejected Jesus; the world rejects us. And that’s okay. We are acceptable to our Heavenly Father. The battles on this earth we face together in His name. The trials, the persecutions, the difficulties. We are in it together–building one living stone upon the other–mortared together by the blood of our Savior and Lord. Rejoice, dear friends. Rejoice.

Who can defeat us? Who can be against us? We are “living stones” in the spiritual house of God. When the earth quakes and the mountains tremble and seas roar and man threatens, we are one, built together and standing strong as a fortress. Thank you for standing with me, my brothers and sisters.

PRAYER: Lord bless my brothers and sisters in Christ today. Give them wisdom and discernment. Let them each grow more in love with You each day. Let each rest in Your grace and be the blessed stone You’ve chosen them to be in the kingdom.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

What Is On My Father’s Mind

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:57:33 +0000

When I was a teenager, I had several opportunities to break my father’s rules–to go places he didn’t want me to go, to do things he didn’t want me to do. I recall a time he made me copy three chapters of the Bible for joining my brother in smoking a cigarette. Today I think back on all the times I failed to live up to his standards. As an adult, I see the pitfalls of disobedience. I also see the promise and reward in following principles my dad encouraged and those my heavenly Father wants me to follow. Sometimes I wish I could turn back time and have do-overs with my dad. However, that is not possible.

Yet, as a Christian, all things are possible with my heavenly Father. He pours out mercy and gives me new opportunities each day. He gives me His Word to show me what He expects. He sent Jesus as an example. He gave me His Spirit to guide me. And His grace covers all my mistakes, and failures. Though I may falter and stumble, I find peace in His approval for the righteousness I have in His Son’s justification and atonement.

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” 1 Peter 4:1

What did Jesus think about? Each time He was confronted with questions, obstacles, temptations, or enticements, Jesus had the Father on His mind.

When faced with the heartbreaking death of His friend Lazarus, and the grief of His friends Martha and Mary, Jesus considered the glory the circumstance would bring to the heavenly Father. When Jesus was faced with the impossible situation of feeding thousands of hungry people with a few loaves and fish, He saw the opportunity to show the power and sufficiency of the heavenly Father. When others condemned an adulteress woman, Jesus forgave her. When others ostracized the lepers, Jesus touched them. When His disciples pushed children away, Jesus called them to himself and told others to have the heart and mind of children. When faced with eternal destruction for all mankind, He obeyed the heavenly Father and sacrificed all–His life–to win the freedom and eternal life for all who believed in, relied upon, and received Him.

Since Jesus walked through life this way and suffered in the flesh for us, Paul tells us to “arm” ourselves “with the same way of thinking”–think like Jesus. When we take time to consider how God looks at a situation, we will be better able to walk like Jesus, forgive like Jesus, confront like Jesus, minister like Jesus and sacrifice like Jesus. Whatever we go through is pin-pricks in comparison to Christ’s sufferings. Can we think like Jesus?

PRAYER: LORD, fill our minds with Yours. Increase our wisdom. Open our eyes to Your purpose in each facet of our day. Arm us with the ability to look beyond each situation, each obstacle, and see the opportunity You intend.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Something To Consider

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:40:12 +0000

My priorties are pretty much a mess right now. It seems the more I try to prioritize, the more interruptions I face. The more needs I try to meet in my life, the more conflicts I find. Once again the Spirit reminds me that my life is not about me. It’s about others. And others are like me, they have emotions, energies, reasoning, desires, and needs of their own. Therein lies my quandry.

If I cannot get my own life in order, how can I give time to others?

From the whining grandchild to the overworked son-in-law. From my Type-A daughter, to my laid-back, steadfast husband. From a distant friend, to one I have lunch with. From my Iraqi friend who I teach English to, to my chiropractor’s orders to rest. All these come to mind when I consider a priority list.

One half of most every moment in my life I am thinking about myself….my needs…my comfort. Yet the more comfortable I get, the less I tend to do for others…the less I consider their feelings, their thoughts, their doubts, their condition, their abilities and even their inabilities. I must consider their flaws as well as their perfections. I must consider their wisdom as well as their foolishness.

God has placed me here, in this moment, to be the light and salt in the lives of others. My mind cannot be so made up, my priorities so set in cement–that I have no wiggle room to meet another’s needs, no tolerance for their weakness, no forbearance for their mistakes.

What about me? What about my needs, my emotions, my hopes? I ask God those questions more than you can possibly believe. I am all about me and my needs and comforts being met. Seriously. I’ve made a vocation of indulging my own pleasure and comfort. But I cannot lock myself in a room somewhere in order to please myself. If I did, I’d have to become a self-reliant farmer, gardener, technician, plumber, baker, physician, etcetera. With relationships, rest is usually compromised, time is not always ours to schedule, whims are not often granted (sometimes not even our needs are met).

“have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;” Philippians 5:5-6

No one had more right to His own pleasures, comfort and desires than Jesus. He, after all, was constantly healing, tending, teaching, listening, and caring for others. He went so far as to lay down His life for others. He paid the price for sin so we could live forever in the Kingdom of God. If Jesus was willing to set Himself aside to meet the needs of others, shouldn’t I?

God allows certain circumstances to occur in my life as I grow in Christ. He has a plan for me and as I walk through life towards the goal He has laid out before me. That ”goal” is ”to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” What is the mindset of Jesus?

Jesus set His mind toward Jerusalem…to save sinners…to obey God all along the way until He willingly lay down upon the cross, and willingly allowed others to nail Him to the wood. He willingly allowed man to raise His beaten, battered, bloody and naked body up on a pole to be mocked, spat upon and humiliated. All to pay the price for sin…my sin, your sin, the sin of others.

PRAYER: Please bless those who struggle with priorities. Give peace to the weary, clarity to the busy, and guidance to those consumed with earthly things. Let them see You in every interruption, obstacle and trial. Let them see Your hand and know the Spririt’s call upon their lives as they walk toward the goal you’ve set before them.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

No related posts.

Whine, Whine, Whine!

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:46:38 +0000

Sometimes it gets so annoying you want to poke a stick in your ears to break your eardrums for relief.

Seriously. Ever been driving in a car on an 8-hour trip to reach a beach-front condo where you know the immeasurable joy it’s going to bring the two children riding in the back seat who have never seen the ocean? And mile-marker after endless mile-marker, all you hear from them is whine, whine, whine…murmur, grumble, and more whine? Your brain gets so full of their incessant complaining that you want to stop the car, smack their bottoms a few times and turn around and go back home.

I think this may have been what God felt like when He sent Moses to the children of Israel to lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Instead of gratitude for the vacation from grueling, daily slavery to Pharoah, they murmurred and complained every step of the way. Instead of rejoicing that their sippy cups had an endless supply of water and their traveling trays held manna for each mile that they freely walked into the desert, they grumbled that the manna wasn’t chicken nuggets, the water wasn’t lemonade. Then…just as the Lord brings them to the edge of the land flowing with milk and honey, they cannot trust the promises of the Lord. They want to go back home to the drudgery of slavery. They’re tired of walking; they don’t trust what God has promised. They decide they were better off under the hand of Pharoah…than in the palm of God’s.

“The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?” Numbers 14:11

How long will it take our children to believe we will do good things for them…better than they can imagine? How many good things will we give them for them to trust we have the best possible things in store for them? How many times must we tell them to do it our way before they learn our wisdom comes from experience and the Lord’s guidance in our lives? We wonder sometimes.

What about us? How much does God have to do to get us to believe our best interests are His priority? How many mini-miracles and major interventions must He perform in our lives to have us trust Him with abandon?

As I think about all I’ve been grumbling and complaining about with my life these days, I am ashamed to say, it seems to be a never-ending lesson with me. Why do so many little things irritate us, cause us to question God’s love and divine plan for the obstacles and seemingly brick walls to the plans we make? I am of the mind that I fail to trust He has something better. Much better than I can imagine in this phase of my life–this temporary desert.

Forgive us Lord when we fail to trust You. Forgive us for looking at giants and thinking they are bigger than You. Clear the blindness we have in life’s trials, and let us trust You with the insight of Your watchcare and steadfast love.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

When Life Begins

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:23:06 +0000

I was cropping photos on my computer, taken on Mother’s Day at my daughter’s house. My granddaughters were tickled to view them. Haylee, 6, was reading all the captions I added to the photos to her 4-year-old sister, Kinsey. We all sat giggling and laughing as each photo came into view. I’d written imaginary words for their little 6-month-old niece’s photos as she rolled over and did push-ups, (yes, yes…my granddaughters are Aunts to my great-granddaughter, Jocelyn).

Anyway, out of the blue, Haylee asks, “Grama, how old was Jocelyn when she was born?” I thought a minute and said, “Well, sweetie, she’d just been born.” She tried again.

“Well, how old was Mommy when she came out of your tummy? How old was I when I was born?” She was quite serious. This was not a trick question. I tried to explain when we’re born that’s when we start counting our age. She wasn’t buying that. I watched her eyes drift to thoughts inside her mind…I could almost hear the wheels turning.

“Mommy says…” (I knew I was in trouble) “…that when we grow inside a tummy we have…”.

Ah ha! Now I get it. I could see where she was coming from and interrupted. “Well, I think you were about 8 months and two weeks old when you were born. Mommy was 9 months when she was born. And Jocelyn was 9 months, too.”

“For You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

I find it rather amazing that age has found a rightful place in the mind of my six-year-old granddaughter regarding life within a womb. I found it endearing that she took it totally for granted that when a person becomes pregnant, life begins and bursts into the world within 3 months of having a one-year birthday. Perhaps we all ought to start having birthday parties for our babies at 3 months to bring this truth to light for children having brothers, sisters, cousins and nieces.

God knows everything about us as He forms us in our mother’s wombs. He knows the hour we will come into the world and the second we will leave it. Life is so precious. So precious to God. When a sparrow falls to the earth, He knows. When a hair falls from our shoulders, He knows. God is the giver of life and life is His to control as long as we breathe and our hearts beat and beyond.

Someday, Haylee will be challenged by the world with liberal thoughts and scientific viewpoints of cells and tissue and planned parenthood. I take comfort in knowing she’s already grounded in the fact that God forms a baby the second He fuses the egg to her womb.

May all those who seek to end the life of God’s precious gift be convicted to turn from that worldly option. May they know that life within the womb is to be guarded, and cherished until it is born and then nourished, and guided in the ways of God.

Crossroads

Dee Dee Wike — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:48:01 +0000

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV)

Overwhelmed and in need of some sense of direction, you are standing at a crossroads unsure of where to turn. The sun’s heat is merciless as it beats down on you. The dusty road beneath your feet can take you in a number of directions, but which way should you go? Do you choose the steep and rocky road that climbs toward the horizon, or do you amble down the long and winding road to the valley below? Although the latter may seem the easier road to travel, inevitably you will have to take the high road on the other side of the valley if you are to scale the mountains that beckon you. If only you could see what lies ahead on either path, the choice would be much easier to make.

Many of us are standing at a crossroads. We are overwhelmed by the challenges we face and wonder where in the world God is taking us as we journey through this life. As we face the uncertainty of what lies ahead, we struggle to gain a sense of direction from many sources – the encouragement and experiences of friends, our own failures and successes, and whatever might feel good at the moment. But are we truly seeking God’s direction for our lives?

As I write this, I find myself standing at a crossroads. Do I content myself with devoting my energies to caring for my family and serving others in a part-time job I truly enjoy, or do I press forward into writing and ministry with the hope that I will make a difference for God using the gifts He has given me? The upward path is difficult and uncomfortable for me. It would be much easier to let go of a dream and settle for what is familiar and comfortable, but is that God’s plan for my life?

Man has not invented a GPS that will make our decisions any easier, but God has given us His Word as a roadmap and is willing to navigate us through every treacherous turn if we are inclined to hear His voice. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on the Morning Star, we can travel with certainty that we will reach the destination He has mapped out for us. The journey won’t be easy. We will encounter many obstacles along the way. But God has promised that He will be with us always, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20, KJV).

A Lifetime

Karen — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:10:56 +0000

“Pray without ceasing.” I Thessolonians 5:17

It amazes me that the God of the universe wants me to talk to Him. He draws me near and allows me to rest in His goodness, compassion, and mercy. It is during these intimate encounters that I sense God’s presence in my life the most. I approach my conversations with God trusting that He will answer my prayers…quickly! I love it when the answer is immediate and obvious. He gives me those moments to appreciate his sweet, swift Spirit. Naturally, I conclude that I was faithful to pray, God was faithful to answer, and I can faithfully move to my next request lickety-split.

I’ve heard stories where people petitioned God with the same request for extraordinarily long periods of time. So long, in fact, that they may have appeared foolish to those around them. I have often wondered if their groaning resembled the incessant buzzing of a bumblebee in God’s ears. Even in the Bible, there were individuals who undoubtedly grew weary of bowing and rising, bowing and rising, bowing and rising with the same prayer day after day. In I Samuel 1, Hannah expresses her deep longing for a child. She literally prayed for years with no results. Just when she had met her point of desperation, Hannah paused, pondered on the longing of her heart, and…prayed again. This woman truly cherished the promise “with God nothing is impossible.” Hannah obviously believed that her God could answer her prayer. Otherwise, she would have gone cold on the whole idea of prayer before she had the chance to see His glorious answer revealed.

For nearly a year, one prayer has echoed from my heart. Not a single day passes that I don’t speak to Him at depth about my desire. I consider the petition honorable. If He chose to answer my prayer, I believe I would grow as an individual and believer. Were God to answer the prayer, it would be uncomfortably life-changing for me. Maybe He knows I can’t handle that right now—maybe not ever. It could be that He is building perseverance and patience in me so that I might better recognize the beauty that comes from a “fervent, righteous prayer.” Could it be that God wants to bless me even more than I can imagine at precisely the perfect time in my life?

Recently, I had a conversation with a special friend about prayer. I asked, “How long is too long to pray for something?” His first reply was, “I don’t know.” I insisted that he give me an answer even if it might be wrong. After a brief wave of silence, his answer came as if from the heart of God. “No amount of time is too long…even if it takes a lifetime to be answered.” Luke 11:1-10 stirs me to pray with persistence and confidence. “For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” My friend’s reply may seem overwhelming and disheartening to some people. However, the words reminded me of the hope I have in my God. The hope that He always listens, always protects, and always answers. Even if the answer takes a lifetime…keep praying.

By Karen Pollock, Kentucky

If God Made It, then…

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:03:45 +0000

why don’t I rejoice in the day? Why is my soul cast down? Why do I let adversity beat me? What reason do I have to rejoice when life treats me unfairly, when day after day circumstance doesn’t change? Why do I grumble, have pity parties, murmur, criticize and condemn those things which cause discomfort? After all…

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

It’s not always easy to look at a day of trouble and rejoice. It’s hard to watch a child suffer, a mother grieve, a widow cry, an elderly person lose all semblance of dignity. It’s difficult to sing a song of harmonious joy when the piano needs tuning, the house burns down, the struggle with sin is lost. However…

that is not the point in rejoicing and being glad. The point is not the circumstances which surround us. It’s not the heartache we are enduring. It’s not the sadness we feel, nor the grief we bear. It’s the fact that life is precious…that God is great…that no matter how bad things get, the LORD is still making days. He is still creating air to breathe, bees to pollinate, seeds to die and give birth to new life to feed us again and again.

So often we tend to look at the darkest part of every cloud. We fail to remember that God is in charge. He knows what He is doing. He cares more about us than we care about ourselves. He knows what it takes to bring us closer to Him, to depend upon Him, to find the perfect peace that passes all understanding. He knows our every thought and every motive. He knows the desires of our hearts–the true desires. He knows how much we can endure.

When we rejoice in a day the LORD makes, it doesn’t mean we are rejoicing and glad for the negative, troubling things we face. However, even James tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

God in His infinite wisdom is working all things together according to His purpose and glory. As we rejoice in the circumstance, the chains of temporal pain are loosed. The storms of unsettled thoughts are stilled. The agony of bitterness is forgiven. The irritation of being wronged dissolves. Then, my friends, then we will be glad in it. The abandonment we feel is replaced with the presence of God’s love and comfort. We begin to trust Him all the more…our faith grows…and God gets the glory for the day He has made. What a glorious thing to consider.

Will you give God His due praise and adoration today? Will you thank Him for the situation and trust His plan to use it for His unimaginable, incomprehensible, infinite, eternal purpose?

ABOUT Hariette Petersen

Hariette Petersen — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:36:10 +0000

They say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I purchased the painting pictured here in 1973 in one of the most horrific times of my life. I was lost–without Christ. Condemned. This picture mirrored exactly how I felt. Like a tiny being in a humongous chair–clutching myself–embracing the only thing that was important to me. My selfish, self-centered self. I did not fit or belong to the world beyond my shoulders. I belonged only to myself, my desires, my ambitions, my goals.

After I was saved in 1976, I kept the painting. It is symbolic of where I was before Jesus came into my life. When I received His grace, I was able to put my past behind me. Not so far out of mind that I could not recall from whence I came, but far enough to know it was behind me. In Jesus I walk in the newness of life–forgiven. He walks with me through the shadows of death. In those shadows, I seek to die daily to the self I once held in highest regard. I want to live for Him. Many times in the past quarter of a century I have failed. But as many times as I have failed, He has forgiven, restored, and renewed. That is what makes loving Him so incomprehensible. His love is beyond any picture I could paint, or any words I could write to describe.

As a 7-year-old child I was baptized in a Southern Baptist Church in Triangle, Virginia, believing Jesus saved me. I attended that church from the time I was a toddler until I was a teenager. Since becoming a child of God in 1976, I have served in Southern Baptist churches as a children’s teacher, youth teacher and director, Women’s Missions Director, Children’s Worship Coordinator, Minister’s Wife, and writer. I began writing professionally in 1981 after studying many writing books from the Meade County Library in Kentucky while my husband was ministering in his first pastorate. I took some writing classes at Boyce Bible School in Louisville. My first article, ”Second Miracle”, was published in Decision Magazine. I can barely remember a time when I haven’t wanted to express myself through writing. Other publications: Home Life Magazine, Living with Children, Living with Teenagers, Upper Room, Daily Meditation, The Crier (my own conservative newspaper). Today I write a weekly newspaper column in The County Times here in Comanche County, Oklahoma entitled Common Matters. I’ve written devotionals online since discovering blogging as a venue in 2006. Devotional writing is my passion and calling as a writer. It’s my hope and desire to write scripturally based thoughts that convey comfort, encouragement and edification. I lay no claim to expertise in theology or doctrine–just the sealed life through the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I draw from a well of life experiences that include joys of marriage, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dear, dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. I’ve known betrayal and neglect: abandoned by a mother at the age of 3, emotionally and physically abused by a step-mother, and molested by others. Through the loss of children through miscarriage, one premature child who lived a day, and a 33-year old son who tragically died on Mother’s Day 2005, I am acquainted with grief. Yet, through it all, I have found the healing grace, and peace of God through Jesus Christ. This is why I write…to share Christ and His power. To share how the Holy Spirit guides, comforts and teaches me. To give honor and glory to God the Father and praise Him for all He allows me to do in His name. It is my prayer that when you read my work, you find words worth reading that bring you closer to our Lord and greater understanding of God’s steadfast love. Some of the greatest passages for me have been, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:5,6 So trust God, lean not to your understanding, or abilities, but always acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths as He continually works to complete you.

No related posts.