7/30/00

Good morning...
Jesus loves You!!

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We must understand that sometimes the Lord's silence is His way of teaching us to grow, just as a mother calmly allows her child to fall and stand up again.
-Corrie Ten Boom-

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Hi Dear Friends!!

It's been so long since I wrote a devotional! I missed you guys! Still, I realize that God's timing is much more important that my own. My prayer is that today's issue will boost your heart in the same manner that Christ has boosted mine! Got yer spiritual battery cables handy? Well, plug 'em up and let's get started! ( grin ) Please be blessed and see you at the end!!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern.

We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interference, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray.

When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us.

When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A Few Of God's Holding Patterns:

1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed, but God has not healed you yet, you are in a holding pattern.

2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding
pattern.

3. When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have not been saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.

4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

5. When the doors slam shut before you can knock on them, you are in a holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. We cannot run from God because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden enough from Him. We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and remember three things:

1. The pattern has a purpose.
2. The pattern has a plan.
3. The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."

Prayer: Father, forgive my unbelief. I know you love me and will turn anything around to benefit me. You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path.
Amen.

-Author Unknown-
Received from: Curler7@aol.com
Thanks Glendia!

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Me again!

I was tired. In fact, I was exhausted. The whole week was a harrowing experience. As my steps noisily echoed through the hall, I prayed. I prayed for my son to be healed. I prayed that my van would crank so that I could go home to shower and change clothes. As I exited the hospital in the wee hours of the morning, my van came into view. The sun was peeping out from behind the clouds, inviting me to a new day. As I got closer, my prayers became more specific. I said, almost aloud, "Lord, please MAKE my van crank." I unlocked the door, climbed in and turned the key. A few clicky sounds and then, nothing. A bit discouraged, I got out and retreated back to the hospital room where my wonderful husband was keeping a watchful eye over our sick son. It was a long stretch back to the room and my tiredness began to reveal itself as I dreaded the walk. I once again tramped the desolate halls and soon intersected with a tall handsome young man. We made eye contact and then he asked very politely, "May I help you?"

I must have been a sight. My eyes were hollow from lack of sleep. My hair and clothes disheveled from trying to rest in an uncomfortable chair while Noah was experiencing the effects of the medication that finally quieted the screams of pain. I mumbled "No thanks," as I continued my trek toward Room 356. After we passed each other, I stopped cold and turned around. I watched as this young man became smaller and the distance between us became greater. Just as he was about to turn a corner, I said, "Wait! Maybe you can help me." He turned around and as we approached each other once again, I explained my dead battery situation. He was more than happy to help as he explained that the hospital has portable battery chargers for "such a time as this."

As he was attaching the cables to my poor weak battery, I leaned on another car and we conversed. I told him about Noah, and how he has been in so much pain this past week with stomach spasms that were baffling the doctors. About how we spent all week trying different medications and nothing was working. It then occurred to me about how much I have been praying this week, and I suddenly blurted out, "You are an answer to prayer." He looked at me questioningly as I explained further. I told him that I was walking to my van and said, "Lord, please MAKE my van crank." My sharing this with "Corey" began to enlighten ME as I realized that my very specific prayer was indeed answered. Not in the way that I would have initially thought, but nonetheless, answered. I didn't say, "Lord, let it start on the first try," I simply said, "Lord, please MAKE it crank." And he did. He used Corey and his charger to make it crank. And I was about to turn him down when he offered to help!

I became more enlightened as this next sentence came into my mind: "Things aren't always the way they seem." With the Holy Spirit in our hearts and on our side, what have we to fear and what have we to lose? That very significant experience with Corey gave me a surge that I am sure would have overwhelmed my car battery. You see, I got recharged too. I needed that "boost" at that very low moment in my life because I was beginning to get too focused on my circumstances and too unfocused on my Father.

Night after night, I sat up with Noah as these spasms endured endlessly. I wanted relief for my son. I wanted relief for me. I wanted relief for Jimmy. We both felt like zombies for lack of sleep and worry. Even though I prayed through the week, the spasms continued. My heart was touched one night as Noah himself voluntarily began to pray in the midst of his pain. His little 3 year old voice rang in my ears as he begged between tears, "Heavenly Fadder, please make my tummy feel beddur. In Jesus' name, amen." I found myself vehemently rebuking the enemy. I did everything I knew to do, but as the days passed, the pain only increased. And then, after a midnight phone call to Noah's doctor, ( who incidentally is a precious Christian man that goes to our church ) we went to the emergency room and began proceedings for hospital admission. We stayed up all night and then made plans for rotating vigils. Jimmy insisted I go home first and get refreshed. I was too tired to protest.

As I climbed into my "jump started" vehicle I felt a smile creep across my face. I made eye contact with Corey again as I thanked him profusely. I asked him to pray for Noah. He said he would, and I believed him. As I closed the door and he slammed the hood, we said to each other with great zeal, "God bless you!"

Even though Noah's condition was still in question at that moment, I felt great peace flood my soul. I headed home and got my shower and physical rejuvenation. The spiritual rejuvenation had already begun. I began to say with more confidence, "Lord, I trust you with Noah. He is yours. I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help comes from YOU, Lord!!

As I type this two days later, I am about to take another shower. This shower is not to unwind, but to wind. It's almost 7 a.m., and I am going to relieve my precious husband once again as we wait for confirmation that Noah can leave this morning. Yes, the pain is gone and my sweet angel is recharged and bouncing all over that room. Do you know how difficult it is to contain a super exuberant 3 year old in a 10 x 12 hospital room?? It ain't easy! But it's MY pleasure! The doctors still aren't sure what that was. All I know is he is well, and I have God to thank. May I never again take good health for granted, but realize it is a gift.

When all is NOT well, I do have a refuge and a Source. I just have to remember: "Things aren't always the way they seem." Prayers aren't always answered MY way. I am not God. God is God. He DOES hear my cry! And sometimes I must wait as He chooses the way He answers that cry. Meanwhile, I will stand and do this:

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Isa 46:9

You see, for a minute there I did allow myself to forget the former things that He has done in my life and in the life of my loved ones. I allowed circumstances to magnify while He became less magnified. That was a terrible mistake. Even though these circumstances revolved around my child and I have a tendency to be that protective "Mama Bear," I must remember that Noah belongs to God. That alone should comfort me.

"Lord, please forgive me. Thank you for using a weak battery to make me realize my own battery needed recharging. Thank you for that "boost." And thank you for healing YOUR Noah. In Jesus' name, AMEN!!"

God Bless You ALL!!
And remember..
Jesus loves you and I do too!

In Christ!!

Carol Skipper
Justaservn@aol.com

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