He Is Jealous For Me...

"Martha was distracted ...

'Martha,' the Lord said, 'you are troubled about many things...

but, Mary has chosen the good portion.'"

Luke 10:39, 42 (AMP)

Sunday morning we had a beautiful time of worship. As I looked around the room I saw hands lifted high, voices raised in praise and there was a tangible sense of God’s Presence in the room. I thought of the many people present with heavy hearts and troubled minds and prayed that they would leave that place different than when they walked into the room. 

And I thought of those who needed to be in the room; who needed to be in the Presence of Jehovah but who were absent for various reasons. My heart was heavy,  for I knew that in that place of worship is healing, restoration, encouragement and hope.

And then it came… that moment in worship when I heard the gentle whisper: “What about you? Like Martha, you are troubled about many things, but have forgotten that I AM here to meet with you, also. Will you abandon yourself in worship to Me now?”

It was at that moment that I realized that my worries and concern for others had overshadowed my worship of the only One who could move the mountains in our way.

Whispers in Worship… gentle reminders to surrender to Him, give our all to Him, and worship Him. It is there in that place that we can finally and truly say, 

“All of a sudden
I am unaware of these
Afflictions eclipsed by glory
And I realize just how beautiful You are
And How great Your affections are for me.
He loves me!”

(John Mark McMillian)_

'Lena Ehlert,  

©Whispers in Worship, 2013

Two Steps Forward…One Step Back = Still Progress!

I’ve had several people ask me this week how things were going. My answer was, “Well, it seems we take two steps forward, and then one step back.” As I thought about this last night, I realized that we often focus on the second part of that statement – the “one step backwards.” But really, we should be focused on the first part . . . we took two steps forward. That means we actually made progress!

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, 

that He who began a good work in you 

will continue until the day of Jesus Christ 

[right up to the time of His return], 

developing [that good work] and 

perfecting and bringing it to 

full completion in you."

Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

So often we want a “quick fix” to our problems, but God is walking us through each and every trial to perfect our faith, and bring us to completion in Him. Andre Crouch wrote, “If I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that God could solve them; I wouldn’t know what faith in God could do!”

Through it all . . . I’ve learned to trust in Jesus!

Even when it’s two steps forward and one step backward.

Where Do You Find Rest?

An old friend called me this morning. This past week has been especially difficult for my family and my friend had been through the same situation several years ago. She said to me, “I just don’t know how people do this without the Lord!”

There are times when we find ourselves blindsided, facing circumstances we would never imagine ourselves to be in. It is in that moment when we have a choice: to give up, to go it alone, or to turn it over to Jesus.

Giving up is a win for the enemy.

Going it alone depletes us of our strength and ends in failure.

Giving it to Jesus brings rest.

Jeremiah 6:16 says:

“This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.”

Too often I try to fix it or figure it out on my own. 

I’m a fixer and I’m just sure I can solve 

the problem or come up with a solution. 

But God said if we stop and look both ways, 

ask for directions and follow them, He will give us rest.

The end of Jeremiah 6:16 says, 

“But you said, ‘We will not walk in it!’” 

and verse 21 says, 

“Therefore, this is what the Lord says: 

‘I will put obstacles before this people.’”

Have you been blindsided by the enemy?

Are you tempted to give up?

Are you trying to fix it all by yourself?

Are you finding obstacles in your path?

Ask Him where the “good way” is and walk in it. 

There you will find rest.

Lena

Further reading:

Deuteronomy 33:12

Isaiah 30:15

Not “If”, but “When”…

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Isaiah 43:2-3 (NIV)

As we look around we don’t have to look far to find someone going through hard times. There are those right around us who are in pain (physical and/or emotional), batting illness and disease, and fighting for their marriages. Some are in danger of losing their homes or jobs; some have been looking for jobs for a very long time and have grown weary and discouraged . . . finances are tight.

The waters are deep and the flames are hot.

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Read the scripture in Isaiah again . . . God didn't say “if”, but “when”. The Israelites knew the stories of their ancestors walking on dry land across the Red Sea and the Jordan River; they remembered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walking in the fiery furnace. And they also remembered God’s faithfulness, provision and deliverance through each one.

Are you walking through rough, deep waters today?                                                        Are the flames flicking at your feet?

Take heart – The Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, is your Savior . . . and He has already overcome!

'Lena