Great Quote...

It is not the greatness of my faith that moves mountains,

but my faith in the greatness of God.

~author unknown~

A peace...

Each morning when I open my Bible there's always a little nugget just waiting for me. Something that causes me to think some little word of encouragement that lifts my spirit and helps me keep going. I've always appreciated SO much how the Lord gives me just what I need for each day and how time and time again He shows me new mercy.

My Bible reading this morning was in Nehemiah chapter 3. This chapter always means a lot to me because it talks about Tobiah & Sanballat. Several years ago I had a Tobiah & Sanballat in my life. Two people who seemed to stand in my way and who hurled insults my way. We had been given direction to move and they were FURIOUS! After all they had done for me and for the 'friendship' we had they felt like I was walking away from all that... for what?! But I knew... I knew that God was in this move and I knew that I had to do it. 

Isn't it funny how sometimes we have people who want to do that? People who think they know what's best and don't want to see the plans of God fulfilled in our lives? Sometimes though, I believe we have an unseen Tobiah & Sanballat... those voices we hear in our heads that tell us we can't go forward, that we're not doing the right thing, that staying put is safe and what's best.... but when you KNOW that God is moving and has something that He wants you to do, you have to stand firm and push forward. Nehemiah knew that... he knew that God was in the rebuilding of the wall. He knew that he had been given an assignment by God to get the work done. He had people willing to help but a fight was needed to ward off the enemy. 

What struck me today was when Nehemiah stood up and then said, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." They had to stand their guard, they had to fight for what they valued most and they had to be ready at all times. 

I feel in my life... there is a Tobiah & Sanballat. There is a force fighting against me in the progression at work. There is a force fighting against my family that would want to delay what God desires to do. There is a force that's fighting against my friend Tammy & her son Nick.... there is a force that whispers in my head, "What are you doing? Will you really get the job you desire? Will you really pass this test? Will you really be able to finish? What are you building? It will just crumble when the winds blow. Who do you think you are? Who gave you authority? You don't know anything!" 

My cry is, "Hear me oh God! Turn these insults back on the enemy's head! You are God alone from before time began and You ARE great & awesome! Thank you that I AM Your daughter and that I can come and STAND in Your authority and in the power that You have given me and STAND FIRM! Thank You that You ARE leading me forward and that You ARE giving me the grace & strength that I need to finish this task that's before me. You are guiding my footsteps and I can rest in Your care & Your provision for me. You ARE great & awesome for You ARE God alone!"

I will stand and fight for my family. I will stand and fight for Tammy & Nick. I will stand beside them. Our God WILL fight for us and we WILL be victorious!

You are God alone (Phillips, Craig & Dean version)

You are God alone

From before time began

You were on Your throne

You are God alone

And right now

In the good times and bad

You are on Your throne 

and You are God alone

You're the only God

whose power none can withstand

You're the only God

Whose name and praise will never end

You're the only God

Who's worthy of everything we can give

You are God 

And that's just the way it is.

Unchangeable

Unshakeable

Unstoppable

That's what You are

You are God alone

The Lord is great and awesome and He is God alone!

Bonnelle

Finally posted...

So... the desired position at work is finally posted... it went up Friday afternoon. Over the weekend I've been working on my resume and trying to come up with 'selling points' about myself to explain why I think I would be an excellent candidate for the job. 

I continue to struggle with studying for the Series 7 exam. It's SO hard and I have a difficult time understanding what I'm reading. I went to Barnes & Noble tonight to try to study and came away frustrated when a group of loud and silly teen-agers came in and sat down. I came home to try to study and have not been very successful at all. It's Sunday... I don't want to study on Sunday's. 

My prayer... is that I would be the one selected for this new position. That I would be hired soon so I could stop studying and get back to having a life. Brittney leaves soon and I don't want to spend the entire time studying. Josiah starts his senior year of high school this week and I don't want to be studying all the time when I know he will need my prayers and support. 

Lord... I place it all in Your hands once again... Lead and guide my steps according to Your plans and purposes for my life. If You want me to continue studying then please help me. Give me the strength and the wisdom to study and understand what I'm reading. If You want me in this new position then please help me to be patient in the waiting process. Please help them decide soon! Thank You for having a purpose and a plan for all of this. Help me to breathe deeply of Your peace and rest in You.

Bonnelle

Today's verse...

Proverbs 20:24

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

It's kind of funny really... Do you suppose the Lord is trying to tell me something? Yes, I believe He is. 

Thank You Lord for directing my steps. Thank You for understanding even when I don't understand. I will trust You to direct me and lead me along the path that You desire I take. Forgive me for trying to understand something that clearly, I don't understand. Help me to wait on You and trust in Your plan.

Bonnelle

Waiting...

Have you ever had to wait for something that you wanted really bad? Of course you have... haven't we all? I've been waiting on a change at work... praying fervently for a new position that is supposed to be posted. Each day I go to the website in anticipation... only to be disappointed again. In the mean time I've put in for something else but I don't really want it as badly as this other one. Each day I ask the Lord about the 'wanted' position and each day... He answers with, "Wait".

This morning again, I was hoping it would be posted and on the way in to work I was reading my Bible and doing my devotions when He took me to this verse:

Psalm 27:14:
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Sometimes... we have to be brave and wait. Sometimes... the waiting requires courage. Always, though, He tells us to wait patiently.

Lord, forgive me for being impatient. Forgive me for wanting this to hurry up.... mainly so I can get out of doing something so difficult. Forgive me for wanting to take the easy road when maybe there is purpose in (what I see as) the more difficult path. Help me be patient in the waiting process. Most of all, help me to be patient with Your timing and to wait on You for clear direction. Maybe what I want isn't what You want for me at all. I want Your best Lord and I don't want to settle for anything less.

Thank You for the blessing of Your word and the gentle reminders that You give me each day.

Bonnelle

His Love for Me...

I loved this part of my devotional this morning because it says so much and I believe, speaks the heart of God.

"Your life is worthwhile because God created it. You are desirable because you are loved by Him. You are precious because He gave His Son for you. You have purpose because He has ordained the days of Your life. Worth, love, value, and fulfillment - these are things money can't buy. They can only be bestowed and received from a gracious God."

The Lord is so kind and gracious. I love how He sends me gentle reminders of His love and what He thinks. I love how each day this week He has so graciously reminded me that everything is OK and that He has it all under control. I love how He reminds me that I don't need to fret or worry or strive... all I have to do is follow Him and His leading and He will take care of the rest. 

I love how He reminds me that my value and worth is not tied up in what I do or where I live. My value lies with HIM and what He thinks about me. He values me because I am His treasure. He created me and He thinks I'm beautiful and special and worth sending His Son to die for. I love how He reminds me that really... the only thing that matters is my relationship with Him, listening to His voice and loving Him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Lord forgive me for sometimes loosing sight of what is most important. Help me focus on my relationship with You and following You. You have told me that You know all my needs and that You will provide for them. You have told me that You have a plan for my life and that You will lead me and guide me in the right paths. All I have to do is seek Your face, listen to Your voice and follow You. I trust You and I will follow You. Your love for me, oh Lord... How can I ask for anything more? You're amazing Lord and I love You so much. 

Bonnelle

Just breathe...

It's always so amazing to me how God speaks to me through the devotionals that I read. This morning I was stopped in my tracks as I turned the page in the devotional to find this verse at the top of the page:

Psalm 46:10:

Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.

The amplified version says, "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God." The New American Standard version says, "Cease striving", and the author of my devotion added "stop worrying".

It's so easy to worry, strive for or to try and make something happen. Take for example, the Executive Assistant/Event Coordinator position at work that I would love to get. I've been watching daily for it to be posted. Is it posted? No! Has my daily watching made it happen? No! I have no control over when it will get posted and neither do I have control over whether or not the guy will hire me! What has posted is the QE position that Dan & Briget are looking at me to put in for. A dilemma to be sure. I worried yesterday, "What if I put in for the QE position like they are expecting me to and then the assistant position gets posted?". On the one hand I could apply for both. Better to apply for both and get one or two offers than to only put in for one and not get anything. Still though, the assistant position isn't posted and that's the one I want more! 

The devotional this morning reminded me to just stop... be still and know that God has it all under control. What will my worrying over it help? Not a bit! I know that He will open doors to where He wants me & He will close the doors to where I shouldn't go because I've been asking Him to do that. He reminded me that I need to just sit back and watch and see what He will do with my life. "Listen," He said, "and I will lead you and guide you to where you should go". Instantly I'm reminded of Charlotte and how He would always guide me to my hotel when I was unsure as to where I should go. 

Lord, thank You for reminding me to just breathe, to be silent, to stop worrying, to stop striving for something that I can't MAKE happen. Thank You for reminding me that You are the one in control and that I can trust You for the outcome and to guide me to where You want me to be. Thank You for the reminder that my worrying & striving really doesn't accomplish anything. Just BREATHE.... 

Bonnelle