Shelly A. Faust

Are You Waiting For Perfect Conditions?

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Ecclesiates 11-4

Are you waiting for just one more thing to fall into place so you can do that thing you know you’re supposed to do?

Are you holding out for perfect conditions before you step out in faith and into that scary, beautiful, unknown territory God is calling you to? You know, that place the deepest parts of your heart and soul long for?

I’m a firm believer in God’s perfect timing and a divine order of doing things. I also know from personal experience that sometimes we think we are waiting on God, but God is waiting on us.

I can count a hundred (gazillion) times I’ve hesitated to do something I know God has called me to do because I felt like I wasn’t ready or I couldn’t see how it was possible or I counted (and recounted) all the ways it could go wrong.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” 

If we know God is leading but we continue to wait until we feel ready, the truth is we probably won’t ever follow His lead.  We’ll stay stuck, perched right on the edge of obedience and radical trust but held back by fear, doubt, and unbelief.

But if we say yes and take that leap even when our heart is beating out of our chest and we don’t know how exactly it’s going to work and we’re unqualified and inexperienced and clumsy and mess up a lot, then what?

Maybe, just maybe, it becomes less about what we can do and more about what God can do through us.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll realize we don’t have to do this thing perfectly, we just have to do it.

Maybe, just maybe, God’s grace and love and mercy will begin to shine through all our imperfections and reveal His perfect beauty to a world who desperately needs Him.

And maybe we’ll finally understand it really isn’t about us at all.

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My current leap of faith into scary, unknown territory involves speaking. I’m sure I’ve whined much more than Moses but God has not relented in His asking nor has He provided anyone to speak for me. I’d rather stay right here behind the keyboard but yes, Lord.

What about you? How can I pray for you today?

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Upcoming Events:

You are invited to listen in on a conversation between myself and Teri Johnson of Keeping It Personal on Thursday, December 18 @ 12:00 pm Central time. The episode will be on eWN Radio Network >>http://ewnradionetwork.com/show/keeping-it-personal/

{NOTE: It will air live here too >> blogtalkradio.com/keepingitpersonal}

After the show goes live (and if you miss it) it will be accessible on iTunes, HERE >> http://bit.ly/KIPiTunes —

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Be Discerning & Wise – Recognize the Enemy

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psalm 63-4

My heart has been heavy today and my spirit grieved. The times upon us are evil and we cannot take lightly all that is happening in the physical and the spiritual realms. We cannot walk in fear but we must take seriously the war against good and evil that is intensifying. As I was cooking dinner tonight I felt impressed to grab my notebook and write. The words that poured out are a warning to us as the body of Christ.

As the enemy weaves skillfully into place and prepares to attack, one of his strategies will be to have us take ourselves out or at least weaken the ranks. This is nothing new and nothing he has not tried before but his efforts are intensifying. There is a multitude of ways he will attempt this, including:

  • Stirring up dissension and strife and causing us to fight among ourselves
  • Using friendly fire to eliminate key and effective leaders
  • Distractions – anything that will keep us from the purposes of God (loving each other as ourselves, forgiving, showing mercy and compassion, offering grace, etc)
  • Causing us to “major on the minors” or things that have no eternal significance
  • Raising up a critical and judgmental spirit
  • Stirring up hate
  • Destroying families, breaking up family units
  • Disunity in the church
  • Discouragement, disappointment, and hopelessness – anything to keep us from walking in the authority and power of Jesus, anything to keep us from praising God
  • Compromise

We must be discerning and wise. Rise up, army of God! Recognize the schemes and wiles of the enemy! He is sneaky and cunning. Be alert! Stand firm! He is a defeated foe and his ultimate fate has already been decided but he can wreak much havoc and cause much harm if we allow him to. We must open our spiritual eyes, hear with spiritual ears, and let the sound of praise go before us. Gather your families! Link arms with your brothers and sisters in Christ! Recognize the enemy for who he is. Arm yourselves with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Take time to be renewed, refreshed, and strengthened in His presence. No matter what the enemy throws at us or uses against us, our God is greater!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:12

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:34-35

For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. ~ Psalm 135:5

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~ 1 John 4:4

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. ~ Psalm 47:1-2

 

Being a Mama Is Tough

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Psalm 62 1 picnic table

Let me say that again.

Being a Mama is tough.

It can make you feel so full of love that you think your heart might burst.

And it can empty you, causing you to question your ability to go on or make you wonder what God was thinking when He trusted you with children.

The one constant we have, no matter what kind of mothering or parenting moment we find ourselves in, is God.

He never changes.

When I feel broken, when my strength has been depleted, and when every ounce of energy has been used up (for example – from parenting a teenager, hypothetically speaking, of course), I can choose to surrender and lay everything at the feet of Jesus. In this place I find hope, healing, and strength to start over again tomorrow.

In our current study of “Am I Messing Up My Kids?” by Lysa Terkeurst, she says,

“Anything I do right as a mom is because of my constant dialogues with God. Anything I do wrong as a mom is because of trying to do things in my own strength.”

After twenty-two years of parenting, I know this to be truth. And yet, still some days I find myself neglecting my source of strength, wisdom, and joy.

But His grace never runs out and His mercies are still new every morning.

So lay down those burdens, sweet mama friend, and pick up His Word.

You’ll find hope there.

Bathe your mind in truth and wrap your heart in His promises.

Surrender those worries, throw away those feelings of inadequacy, and please PLEASE break that measuring stick that falsely accuses you of being less than others.

God doesn’t love us based on how well we perform or how perfectly behaved our kids are.

He loves us not because of anything we are but because He IS love.

His affections have been set on you today. Right now. This. Very. Moment.

Breathe out that thing weighing you down.

And breathe in His grace and strength to keep going.

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.  Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”  (Isaiah 40:29)

“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”  (Psalm 100:5)

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Isn’t He so good? :)

Love,

Shelly

(Need encouragement from other mamas? Join us here —> Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies.)

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