LIFE

Greetings Everyone,

It is great to be back in a place where I can take time to share with you all again.  Life has been busy for us as I am sure it has been busy for all of you

Life is such an interesting concept, as the past 3 months or so have come and gone I have begun to ponder  the word LIFE.  What defines life, is it our religion or our actions? Is it the example we set or receive from others or is it our thoughts? All interesting questions...

I believe that there are many times when we ask ourselves these very questions; often in times of struggle, change and when we know little about the path ahead. Hence, most likely the reason why the word LIFE has been on my mind lately.

Change came when our lovely daughter was born, it came when I was offered a job in Arizona and it came when I moved my family here after accepting the opportunity given me. These are all good changes and I am quite happy with where we are. Yet, this concept of LIFE is still very much on my mind.

We have basically started over again with our life in Arizona, while we've not been here very long this realization is here.  Where our friends and extended family have been left behind, we will find many additions to them here in Tucson. God will teach us new things about ourselves and the calling he has placed upon us as a family and as individuals. LIFE will never be the same and that isn't a bad thing.

In the midst of all these thoughts the LORD has given me a solemn promise in the scriptures.This promise came from a very unexpected place and has made a wonderful addition to my life verse collection... 

"You will live in joy and peace.The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!  Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."  Isa. 55:12-13

The entire chapter is a beautiful testament to this LIFE we have and  I am extremely excited about what lies ahead. Look for more on this topic of LIFE in the days ahead. You can start by reading 1st John 1:1-4.

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.

Waves of the Heart

Hey everyone and Merry Christmas,

Life is an interesting thing isn't it and as I wrote before Gods timing is spectacular.  I firmly believe that this concept of time being in Gods hands is something God truly wants me to get a bigger grasp of. I understand it well enough but I feel he wants to take my family into an even deeper level of understanding it. I believe he wants his timing to be our lifestyle...

It is great to understand certain concepts of our faith but I think in the long run God really wants us all to embrace the concepts wholeheartedly. I believe it comes back to a devotion I wrote at some point last year regarding the Undivided heart.  I am learning that there is so much more to this life than simply living or dieing (as Steven Curtis Chapman would sing and a post for another time.)

What is an undivided heart, you may ask? Well, I believe it to be a heart that belongs solely (SOULY) to one particular thing. Life will pull our hearts one way or another and we have to have a deep enough understanding of this the what's on the surface. 

So many times we surf on the waves of life not realizing there is the danger of falling into the deeper waters. Without being properly prepared, we cannot use what is necessary to overcome what lies beneath. This is what an undivided heart brings and when Gods spectacular timing determines that its time to change something we need to be prepared. 

This is what I'm beginning to understand about Gods timing, some times the only way you can prepare is to trust SOULY in his unfailing guidance as the wave's of life knock us of the our surfboard (so to speak.) I read the following to my new born daughter this morning and it made me stop and think...

 WOW!!

" Sometimes I grant you glimpses of your glorious future, to encourage you and to spur you on. But your main focus should be on staying in MY presence. Remember I set the pace in keeping with your needs and MY purposes." -Jesus Calling Book

What a wonderful reminder of Gods timing both Leyla and this message are for me today. It has been an amazing (and exhausting) past few days in the Elliott household.  It is such a wonderful feeling to know finally that our little Leyla is here and that she is such a healthy baby. 

God has been so good to us and while we are surfing on a whole knew wave of life, there will be times when we will get knocked of but knowing Gods timing and preparing the undivided heart through prayer, devotion and worship will always remind us of HIS unfailing guidance. Take a look at Psalm 86 when you get a chance, its a wonderful example of this.

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." 26.11.19 NIV

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.

Winds of Change

Its interesting to think that life changes so often with out us really realizing what is happening before our eyes. One day your headed on way, the next day it's the complete opposite direction.  Many times the turns we take on this path of life are completely unpredictable, then once those turns are made we have no clue why they were made. All that we know is that they were made.

This concept is something I've been thinking a lot about in recent months with the coming of our first born any day now. It often has made me stop and think. How much will my whole perception of life change when our Leyla arrives. Sometimes  it's hard to think about what life will be like when she arrives and then other times I'm so ready I find my self asking Leyla, "when are you going to get here?" 

I started thinking about how these thoughts applied to our Walk with Christ and I believe it began leading me to an interesting revelation. It is a revelation that has found it's way into my head before, but as usual maybe God just needed to remind me of it. Sometimes he does that you know. :-)

We are called to live life in the unknown, and as the winds of change send us in a new direction in this life we must embrace the unknown fully relying on Gods guidance with each new direction that comes. It's not always easy to to this but though because human nature holds us back. The beautiful thing is though, that God has already defeated human nature in the form of Jesus.

In the End what it comes down to is this, the unknown comes, life changes, we head down another path, and while we may not understand why, all we have to do is embrace the one who already knows the outcome is beautiful. 

Acts 9 is a wonderful example of how the Winds of Change and change your whole perspective on life.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." 21.3.11 NIV

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.

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.