It Came to … Pass

 

By Andrea Merrell

And in the process of time it came to pass.

Genesis 4:3 NKJV

The woman had a dream, something she knew God had placed in her heart. She prayed. She used her faith. And she waited … and waited. When she was about to give up hope, the Lord said to her, “This will come to pass.” And it did.

The phrase “it came to pass” can be found in the Bible 436 times. We read story after story where the Lord fulfilled His promises.

The word pass has many meanings, but we want to focus primarily on two. The first is to happen, to be done or said—just like the woman with the dream. When it comes to the promises of God, we should never give up hope.

The second is to come to an end.

We all face various trials of every size and shape, from petty little frustrations to life-threatening situations. The outcome, many times, depends on our attitude and how we deal with these trials. We can settle in and accept them or know that they are only for a season, be it long or short. In other words, tough times may come, but they come to pass. To go away. To come to an end.

Whatever season you’re in—waiting for something to happen or waiting for it to end—don’t lose hope. It’s been said that the only constant thing we can count on in this world is change.

So hold on. Change is coming. And in God’s kingdom, it’s always for the better, no matter what.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Soheb Zaidi.

Wait For It …

 By Andrea Merrell

Lord, the only thing I can do is wait and put my hope in you.
    I wait for your help, my God.

Psalm 38:15 TPT

 

A hush fell over the crowd. All eyes focused on one thing. In a barely audible voice the announcer said, “wait for it …”

Ten seconds later, the people shouted with joy. Applause replaced the silence as the tiny white ball dropped into the cup. Game won.

Waiting is part of life. We live in a constant state of anticipation, expecting either good or bad. With the bad, sometimes the anticipation is far worse than what we’re waiting for. It might be a dental appointment. Surgical procedure. Test results. A call from our prodigal. In the good times, we wait for news of the birth of a grandchild. A job promotion. A marriage proposal. A contest. A miracle.

No matter what we’re waiting for, the anticipation can affect us positively or negatively. It depends on our attitude. Some say that over 90 percent of the things we dread or fear never come to pass. So why do we spend our time worrying and fretting over what we cannot control?

It’s a matter of changing our mindset. Thinking differently. Seeing from a new perspective. The Bible calls it “renewing our minds.” How do we do that? By saturating it with God’s Word.

What are you anticipating? Hoping for? Praying for? The Bible is filled with blessings and promises. Ask in faith for what you need, and then trust Him to answer—in His way and in His time. In the meantime, give Him thanks and praise from a heart full of gratitude.

Then, wait for it …

Photo by Steven Shircliff on Unsplash

TWEETABLE

The Bible is filled with blessings and promises. Ask in faith for what you need. Then trust Him to answer in His way and in His time. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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What Do You Expect?

 By Andrea Merrell

 

We expect our fill of good things in your house,

your heavenly manse. 

Psalm 65:5 MSG

 

Are you expecting? No, this has nothing to do with being pregnant.

 

When guests are coming for dinner, we say we’re expecting company. If the check is (truly) in the mail, we fully expect it to arrive. We expect the sun to rise, the car to start, and the light to come on when we flip the switch.

 

But what do we expect from God? Harsh judgement? A deaf ear? Unfair treatment? Or maybe nothing at all.

 

The Bible is full of God’s promises, and the way we appropriate those promises is by believing them. Using our faith. In other words, we expect God to keep His Word.

 

When we make a promise to a child, that child counts on us to keep it. In the same way, we—as God’s children—can count on Him to keep His. It’s a matter of faith. And hope. And trust.

 

So, what are you expecting?

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and David Castillo Dominici.)

 

TWEETABLE

Are you expecting God to keep His promises? via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

 

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Darkness Must Flee for My Light Has Come

Today's inspirational post is by author and speaker, Nan Jones. Check out her new book, Perils of a Pastor's Wife. See link below.

By Nan Jones

Arise [from the depression and 

prostration

in which circumstances have 

kept you—rise to a new life]! 

Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), 

for your light has come, 

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! 

~ Isaiah 60:1, AMP

I couldn't sleep. My mind leaped from thought to restless thought, tumbling into the shadowed abyss between. With a heavy sigh I finally surrendered and got up. I fumbled through the darkness until bumping into the couch in our den. Sitting down, I curled up on the end near a window.

Father, I prayed, I'm so overwhelmed. I'm consumed with sorrow and ridden with anxiety. There is no peace within me. Be my peace, Lord. Please be my peace.

I adjusted the throw pillow so I could hold it in a snuggle and feel its soft caress against my cheek. Darkness shrouded me in its heavy cloak. Tears trickled. Shoulders heaved. And my spirit struggled to press into the One who loves me.

"Jesus ... Jesus," I spoke in a soft whisper.

My eyes scanned the ebony sky. It was nearly dawn, but the black of storm clouds fought the rising sun. Towards the east, a faint silvery glimmer appeared. The dawning of a new day struggled to break through the persistent storm clouds, ominous in size, harmful in their threat.

I watched the battle in the heavenlies.

Mesmerized.

Hoping against hope that the light of a new day would win over the billowing clouds of night.

The old mantle clock ticked away the minutes, filling the quiet with rhythms of life. I watched as the sky's silvery nugget began to expand. Edges of golden light fringed its soft perimeter, silhouetting and revealing the magnitude of the clouds. The light continued to grow, overcoming the darkness with its brilliance. I watched as the storm clouds bowed to the presence of the light. 

As the morning sky sang praise to its Creator, the darkness of the storm faded. The colossal clouds began to reflect the morning light as they transformed before my eyes. Ribbons of apricot streaked across the expanse of heaven, delighting and calming my worn spirit.

The Lord spoke quietly into my heart, Nan, I am the Light in your darkness. Just as the light of dawn overcame the darkness of night, so my Presence in your life overcomes your despair. I am your peace, your hope, your joy. With your mind stayed on Me, I will keep you in perfect peace.

"Yes, Lord," I whispered back, the colors of dawn reflecting in my eyes. "With my eyes focused on You and You alone, I will find peace. Your glory will light my path, permeating my darkness and lacing it with the brilliance of dawn."

The fiery globe of the morning sun rose above the mountain ridge and gave a nod towards my sleepy face. The darkness fled, for my Light had come.

TWEETABLES

Jesus is the light in your darkness. @NanJones via@AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)

Darkness has to flee, for your Light has come. @NanJones via@AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.) 

Nan Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. Her devotional blog, Morning Glory, has become a place of community for Christians to find encouragement in God’s Word and comfort in His Presence. She has been published in several anthologies and online venues, and is the author of The Perils of a Pastor's Wife. Visit Nan at www.NanJones.com, or http://morningglorylights.blogspot.com/, or her Facebook community page, Seeing Beyond The Veil. For personal communication you may email Nan at nan@jubilantlight.com.

The Perils of a Pastor's Wife is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Beauty Out of Ashes by Andrea Merrell

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my Christian walk, it’s that God does not waste a single thing. Whatever the enemy means for evil and destruction, God can turn around and work for good in the lives of those called according to His purpose.

The problem is the fact that we don’t see the big picture when we’re in the midst of the fiery flames of adversity. All we want is a way of escape, which God has promised in His Word (see I Corinthians 10:13).

Over eighteen years ago, both my son and daughter rebelled and dove headlong into a life of drugs and alcohol. My husband and I had done all we could to raise our children in a godly environment. We were devastated and didn’t know what to do or where to turn. What we discovered is this: even good kids rebel, and even good parents can end up with a prodigal—or in our case, two.

When I felt God nudging me to write my story, it was difficult re-living many of the events that brought fear, anger, frustration, tears, sleepless nights, and the hopelessness that tried to swallow me. The best part, however, was the healing that took place as I put pen to paper. My story has a happy ending and I’m now able to share practical advice and survival tips with others. God created beauty out of ashes in my family, and He can do the same for you.

If you or someone you love is dealing with a prodigal, my sincere desire is that Praying for the Prodigal (now available on Amazon) will give hope and encouragement to anyone traveling this dark path.

In God’s economy, nothing is wasted … even our pain.

I would love to have you join my Facebook launch party tonight (Monday, March 30th) from 7-9:00 PM. All you have to do is click on this link:
http://on.fb.me/1CneI6Y.

TWEETABLES

In God's economy, nothing is wasted ... even our pain. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)

Are you or someone you love dealing with a prodigal? Praying for the Prodigal now available on Amazon. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)


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