Whispers

It's Simply amazing the things that God teaches us. He tends to use some interesting methods when it comes to teach us the lessons we need to learn. For the longest I have often wondered why he uses the methods. I've asked him several times. "Lord why does it take so much for you to get my attention sometimes, I have always believed I've been open to hearing your voice?" 

One night I was praying much like I do every night  before I "enter the rest," and I believe God showed me something. I argued with him saying "Lord, how have I ever lost sight of your voice?" Let me tell you that was the wrong thing to ask him, because wouldn't you know it, he showed me :-). The Lord discipline is interesting isn't it but that's a tale for another time :-). As humans we are very easily distracted by the things of this world that we loose sight of his voice even when we are trying to stay focused on his name. 

Recently I have been struggling with theses same thoughts, it seems as though over the past month in my devotion time, worship time, and prayer time, this same topic is showing it's self again.  I don't say this to say that I'm loosing sight of Gods voice, I say this because I feel God doesn't want me to fall into the doubt that comes with loosing sight of him.

I read something that really laid it out for me a few days ago and I believe that it is rooted in this reminder. It was similar to this...

My Child, When you stray from my path, simply whisper my name, this will restore my thoughts to the forefront of your mind, and you will know my presence again. --Adapted from The Jesus Calling Book.--

What a statement. It shares the desire of our Lords heart.  It is almost like Him saying. Come Child, speak my name, here my voice, listen to what I have for you to hear. If only we could see when we are straying a little more clearer. then we could all find our own ways to Whisper HIS name. Don't be fearful, whisper. Check out Elijah's whisper of a tale in 1st Kings 19.

"God is working with in you child, giving you the desire to be obedient and the power to do what pleases him." 50.2.13

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Another Attempt

It’s been quite some time since I’ve done anything similar to this and I know I say this almost every time but I do really enjoy the Idea of writing what God places on my heart for those that are interested to read and share with others. 

I have decided to attempt this little blog again and hopefully this time I will keep up with my posts. I’m not going to say that it is going to be easy but I am really hopeful this time. Your prayers and support would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the plan, I will post something on this blog page at least once a week that I feel God share’s with me. So starting later this week there will be something posted for anyone who wants to read it.  This little post does not count ……

God show me what you’d have me write and how you have me write it. Give me the motivation and the support that I will need to do as I feel you are leading me to do, I know that it won’t e easy to remember but I pray that I will. Be my guiding hand showing me each and every time I write what you’d have me share. In Your Name I pray….

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

The Same God

DEAR READERS,

I have been listing to a CD lately that has been quite encouraging and it made me thing about the scripture...

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

     It's a beautiful gem and is a reminder to us all that no matter what we go through God will always be the same God he has always been. It is a verse that can give us strength, in the days that we struggle with what life thows us. It can give us hope that God is still as powerful as he was in the days of old. Jesus Christ is always with us and always will be.

     I would like to post the link to the lyrics to one song that has really been speaking to me on the CD that I have been listening to...

http://www.newsongonline.com/music/onetruegod.php#same

     I have to say this is such a powerful song, and can be very encouraging when your facing the struggles life has thrown your way. I know for us it has been a difficult last six months and the first time I heard this song, I was in tears because of the impact it had on me. It reminded me that there will be days when it feels like our faith has is failing. The thing I need to remember is that God has always been near and has heard every word I have prayed to him. There were and still are times when it seems like He hasn't but he has. 

     Everything that life throws us happens for a reason and we while we may never figure it out the reason is there. There will always be a time and a place for every season of our lives good and bad and God truly does know what's best for us even when we don't think he does :-). God's timing is everything in our lives, even when it seems the world is against you.  Keep praying for that breakthrough, it will come.  Take all your fear and doubt and lay it in the palm of HIS hand. 1st Peter states. "Cast all your burdens on him because he cares for you." So just keep holding on and the same God who has been with you from the beginning will lead you through it :-).

     I will be honest it may not be what you want, or what you feel you need but in the end it will be what you need Psalm 37 speaks volumes more to this posting so I encourage you to read it :-) In the mean time "just keep holdin' on."

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Reflections: Let us Rejoice

DEAR READERS, 

Here is a Devotional Blog I wrote back in January. I didn't get the chance to post it then so it's posted as a reflection today. I don't really remember the exact date but I hope that it brings some kind of Joyful noise to your souls :-)...

The LORD'S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" Psalm 32:10, 11

God controls and allows every detail of our lives. Nothing happens without His knowledge and approval. It may seem like he doesn’t care sometimes but we all know deep down that he truly do care and that he cares a whole lot. So often we see a situation coming and begin to think “How in the world are we going to get through this?” and the answer may seem simple but it requires us to let go.   

My mother always told me “Matthew James, Let go and Let God for once, you can’t fix everything, and if you could why would you need God to save you.” That is so true. Every day, little changes in schedule or small irritations occur. Everyday, we can choose to let these obstacles upset us, or we can rest in the knowledge that God lovingly ordained them as small irritants to help us look to and rely on Him. 

For example, we can grumble about the frustrating traffic jam that is keeping us from getting somewhere on time, or we can remember that God knows about our deadlines and view the time sitting in traffic as an opportunity to pray. We can complain, or we can rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, and again I say rejoice, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say……REJOICE…….” :-)

May we allow the knowledge that we are continually surrounded by God's unfailing love to fill our lives and chase away our complaints and fears. Let us always remember that no matter what the circumstance God’s in control and life can always be enjoyable. :-)

Adapted from http://www.christianperspective.net/articles/devotionalthoughts.html

Well that will be it for now, Hopefully will have some more to post a little down the road. I hope you all have a blessed week and that the LORD himself give you joy when you need it the most. :-)

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Complete Devotion

DEAR READERS,

This is a devotional Blog that I wrote a while back and I want to share it with everyone. I wrote a little blurb on this topic a while back but here is the extended devotional that was the basis for that little blurb. I hope it brings some encouragement.  

Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.”  Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

When I read this the first time it seemed like a pretty good verse.  It reminded me about the passage in Matthew that talked about serving two masters, and the passage in Joshua that talks about choosing this day whom we will serve. Two passages that really speak to the heart, if we let them. In many ways the three ask the same question, What does your heart belong too?

For now we will just stick with the one verse we have before us though.  When we look at this passage in the good news translation of the Bible instead of ‘give me an undivided heart’ it says, ‘teach me to serve you with complete devotion’.  One thing about serving is that it is an action, which means we actually have to do something in our hearts to serve with complete devotion.

In other words, we can’t devote our life to both God and something else.  At some point in our lives there will be things that try to pull our hearts away from God whether we know it or not and we must be able to over come those desires. I believe what it comes down to is this question, How do we serve with complete devotion? It’s simple, we practice letting go and letting God.  Of course it’s not that simple but that’s where the glory of it is. Daily we choose to give our life and our day to HIM.

Whatever is on your hearts today, don’t let it get the best of you.  Think about what it means to serve with complete devotion and take time to ask God “what can I do with this situation today to help me rely more upon you?” Instead of spending so much time trying to figure everything out, give it to God, tell HIM, “LORD, I WILL NOT LET ME, GET THE BEST OF ME, It belongs to you and only you”.

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Long Time Coming

Dear Readers,

It sure has been quite a long time since I've posted something on this page. I know I say this every time but I really need to get back in the swing of things.  I don't know if I will or not but I want to try to at least. Maybe now with recent changes in the life of The Elliott's this blog will be update more often and maybe not.

I just want to say though the last 6 months or so have been extremely difficult for Traci and I. We have run into some pretty hard situations and aren't through with them yet. I don't need to go into the details at this point in time because it will all come out eventually. Life is full of little surprises though. Even with everything that's been going on Traci and I are still loving and learning about life. Our marriage is still fantastic, we have some wonderful friends and there are little things that keep popping up that make everything we are going through worth it :-).

I just want to end this short little blog with one little word of encouragement...

(I may end up writing a devotional blog on this but I'm not sure yet)

You are God’s child, and God will give you the blessing he promised!  Galatians 4:7

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Roller Coaster

Hey Readers,


I have to say that it has been way to long since I have posted something on this site.  It has been just over a month since my last post, and it has truly been an eventful one. It almost as if we have been stuck on this never ending roller coaster of life and it has been interesting to say the least.  However, I believe that the roller coaster is finally nearing a softer spot on the track, if you know what I mean.


I am hopeful that I will be getting back in the swing of things with the posting of this Blog.  I really don't know what to share with this blog but how about I just start with saying GOD IS GOOD AL THE TIME and ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD.  Boy does that bring back memories, memories are good, memories that are bad, and memories that are simply neutral.  Those memories remind me just how much God has played a part in my life and help me realize that I haven't just been on a roller coaster the past few months but every day of my life.


I am beginning to believe that this is simply what life is, a long roller coaster adventure that takes us on several different types of terrain.  There is the mountainous terrain that we encounter when we face many struggles or events at once, there is the desert terrain that we encounter when we feel there is nothing more we can take, there is the   wooded terrain that we encounter when we have no Idea where we are going, there is the under water terrain that we encounter when we feel like everything is closing in on us, there is the beautiful hilly terrain where we feel that there will be some struggles we will have to face but have the confidence to face them, and finally there is the flat green terrain in which everything seems peachy and it's almost as though we won't have to worry about anything at all, I'll bet we all long for that type of terrain :-).


I wonder if most of us even know which terrain we are on right now.  I have to say I feel that Traci and I are just leaving the under water terrain and entering into the wooded terrain with the hilly terrain on the horizon in a way that we see glimpses that disappear soon after we see them.  I believe that many of you all are at this point as well and It is not a completely bad thing. It is at this point on our roller coasters that we have to rely completely on someone else to direct the path our roller coaster is taking. It's almost as though we see the the change of terrain coming but we just can't get there, isn't it? 


We all deal with this in our lives at some point, but you know it is at that point in which we have to put our trust into someone who can see a bigger picture that we can.  It is the point in which we place our hope in God, as I am learning more about each and every day.  I won't keep you any longer so to end for now I will simply say, Life truly is a roller coaster and regardless of what terrain we are all on right now,  "There is a Hand above, simply waiting to guide us through it."

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.