Category: This and That

Question Your Questions

This was something I wrote a long time ago in 2007 and I thought I would share… it is a more general post toward everyone, not necessarily Ministry Mamas…

Question Your Questions
February 21, 2007

Lord, I ask more questions
Than You ask.
The ratio, I would suppose
Is ten to one.
I ask:
Why do You permit this anguish?
How long can I endure it?
What possible purpose does it serve?
Have You forgotten to be gracious?
Have I wearied You?
Have I offended You?
Have You cast me off?
Where did I miss Your guidance?
When did I lose the way?
Do You see my utter despair?
You ask:
Are you trusting me?

From Tell Me Again, Lord, I Forget
By Ruth Harms Calkins

The questions of a Christian can blind and distort the figure of God Almighty. When questioning God you must seek His Word to find your answers. Did not Satan pose a question to Eve about God’s instruction in her own life? Then as she began questioning herself what God had told them Satan began speaking lies that caused her to reconsider her desires to obey God. Her view of God changed because she allowed Satan to whisper in her ear and cause doubts. As she looked at the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil the Bible says that she saw that it was good to eat and she ate it. Then, she passed it on to Adam, who also made a decision to partake.

You must strongly question when you question the Lord and decide if it is going to be a doorway of Satanic lies in which he will work in order to destroy you and your relationship with God through the introduction or re-introduction of sin. As in the case of Eve passing the fruit on to Adam, beware lest you fall into a snare and drag others in with you.

In most of our tumultuous times in life we ask questions to which the author of that poem familiarly wrote and we search for complicated and logistical answers for the effects of what has happened to us when it’s really simple: “Are you trusting me?” Our panic, our lack of prayer, our manipulative actions to control a life that is not within our control is all because of a lack of trust toward God.

The chorus of a song by James Wells comes to my mind when I think of what trusting is – “Living by faith, in Jesus above; Trusting, confiding, in His great love; From all harm safe, in His sheltering arm; I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.” Faith is trusting in the God we cannot see and knowing His plans and power will keep our soul safe from eternal destruction. Without that type of faith we’re leaving the door unlocked for Satan to come in.

Many times in the Old Testament God put the children of Israel through various circumstances in order to “prove” them as you can read in Exodus and Deuteronomy. The word prove means to “test, tempt, to try.” Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” It was an effort to reveal to them what was in their hearts and whether they would be obedient to what He told them to do.

Maybe that’s the case here in your situation, whatever it may be, with whatever difficulty, test of morality, trying of your patience, perhaps God is proving what you’re made of.

Are you trusting Him?
Are your questions legitimate or have you begun to question for selfish reasons? or a way to get out of obedience?
Are you allowing Satan to come into the door of your hardship and gain entry to destroy you and your relationship with God?
Are your doubts bringing others down with you?

It’s a good thing to stand back and evaluate so that you can have the closest relationship you can with the Lord despite what you’re going through. Seek the answers to your questions in the Word of God and it will help your trust and faith to grow or stay in tact. Question your questions!

Underneath a Load of Care

Sometimes we get overworked and we hear about one more problem and we shrink beneath our load of care. I hope you will read this poem that I wrote and find hope and strength to walk to the Saviour and have Him lift your burdens.

Underneath A Load of Care

Underneath a load of care, one more ounce I cannot bear.

The issues of each day abound and their duties and weight compound.

Sinking low into life’s sands, I feel the brush of someone’s hand.

My tired body is lifted up and an invitation Christ bids, with Him to sup.

While at His table He gives me food and reminds me of all that He’s done that’s good.

He spoke gently of the load He bore and instructed me not to be burdened anymore.

I left my load behind today; His light yoke I will bring along the way.

This victory in Him to live, ask for it and He will give!

Jesus in heaven is waiting for you to give your load to Him too.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

© The Ministry Mama 2010

Last Week’s Celebrations

We had a great week last week, I just feel impressed that the Lord was working in my heart to put more of an emphasis on His resurrection than we have in the past. We made crafts, had special meals, and crafted some more. Then, on Thursday, we celebrated our oldest daughter’s 3rd birthday. Her nickname is “Tres” for the blog, so you’ll know who I am talking about. I made a new flower arrangements for the church on Friday. Saturday we had our monthly visitation breakfast at church and left flyers for our Resurrection Sunday campaign out on the doors in the nice warm weather. Then, in the afternoon went to a picnic at the park where my forehead was sunburned just in time to look like the Easter sunrise.

This year I did not have to run around for outfits because we already had been given matching dresses for the girls and the boys had little sweater vest suits to wear that matched. Yes, my boys, 7 & almost 6 still like to match and I hope that lasts for a long time! Hah, I’m a bit of the corny matching mom here.

Sunday was busy for everyone as usual, and we were able to share our afternoon at our pastor’s house with his daughter and granddaughter. By the time we got home that afternoon we crashed and burned and then had to peel the kids off their beds so we could plop them in the car and drive back to church. Then I was in the nursery that night so it really did not feel like Resurrection Sunday at all.

I was glad that I was able to talk about it with the kids in doing the crafts with them and really make the week special because Sunday did not feel like it. If I had tried to cram all of my good intentions in on everyone on Sunday then it would not have worked out to be as meaningful.

When I moved away from my family my grandmother told me that I would have to create new traditions for my family since we would not be living around family during the holidays. I have tried out different things each year for different holidays and want to continue making this week fun and exciting, just as exciting as Christmas, if not more so. We may actually make this week our Spring Break next year.

So, now for a cute picture of my little birthday girl. Tres is in the question phase of life and learning so much. She is learning to phrase her personal pronouns correctly and becoming the boss. She is a wonderful helper and blessing to me already. Since our baby was born over a year ago she has been one step ahead of me, sometimes to her own fault, being a help to me by getting diapers, clothes, and anything her sister needs. She has been singing “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus” for a few weeks now, only repeating that same phrase over and over. She is an exciting person to be around when she is not whining, but aren’t we all!? This photo is a little dark but it captures her happy day. She is truly a gift sent from the Lord!

Aurora's 3rd birthday