Survivor ‘06
Wasn’t that
an amazing conference?! I hope it blessed your hearts as much as it has
blessed ours. It is awesome to know we spent the day in the presence of
the Lord! Thanks for coming and feel free to contact us with any
questions, comments, or other needs at shinewomensministry@yahoo.com
SHINE 2006
Speaking of this
year’s conference, some of the life changing stories I have heard have been
amazing! We love to hear feedback so that we can serve each of you better
so if you did not get to fill out a survey and would like to please let us know
and we will email you one.
Here is one of my
favorite comments from this year’s conference,
“Last year was a mountain
moving earthquake experience for my heart and life. This year built on that.”
Isn’t that
awesome? To God be the glory!
Thoughts…
As we met and shared
together at this year’s conference we discussed what it was like to survive the
everyday, the huge challenges as well as the small battles. I just want
to take one more opportunity to encourage you to trust in God to give you
“beauty for ashes, strength for fear, and gladness for mourning.” I hope
you enjoy this month’s newsletter and are encouraged to weather the storms that
come your way by trusting in the maker of heaven and earth.
Keep Shining, Marla
Graham
When
Winter Comes
Having lived in central
Can
the same be true however, when it is winter in our very soul? Most of you
have been there at some point or another, maybe some of you are even there
right now. It is not a place that we desire to be but according to Job
5:7, “Man is born for trouble.” The disciple John reiterated this truth
in chapter 16:33 when he records Jesus’ words, “…in the world you will
have tribulation.” In other words, winter will come. It is
a natural part of God’s design, not just in regards to weather, but also in our
lives. So then the question is what do we do when we feel barren or cold,
maybe even dead within? How do we handle the winters of life?
The
Bible has much to say on this as well. First and foremost we need to
remember that God is in control. He is in control of the delicate spring
flowers, the warm summer breezes, the splendor of autumn, and the barren beauty
of winter. Jesus ends the verse in chapter 16 by saying, “…but take
courage; I have overcome the world.” You can be sure winter will come in
some way, shape, or form, but there is no need to worry or fear because God has
already won the battle. An awesome picture of this can be found in Acts
12:1-19. We can read here about how James was put to death by King Herod
and when the Jews cheered him on he decided to go ahead and arrest Peter
to. Peter is then guarded day and night by four squads of soldiers until
the Passover season would finish and then he would be put to death.
Sounds like winter to me. If I were Peter I think I would be tempted to
feel barren and maybe even bitter about the circumstances. I mean here is
Peter, serving the Lord with everything he has and by some strange set of
events he finds himself sitting in a cold, damp jail cell.
I
am amazed though at what I read in Acts. Peter’s actions show that he has
a peace about who has “overcome the world.” He slept so soundly that the
angels had to hit him to wake him even though he was to be killed the next day,
sounds like the peace that surpasses all understanding to me! So step one
for Peter was to trust God despite the circumstances. The popular new
song by Casting Crowns states it this way, “I will praise you in this storm and
I will lift my hands because You are who You are, no
matter where I am.”
Next
step, get some back up. Peter has himself knee deep in winter but in the
meantime the church is earnestly praying. They have not given up hope for
a brighter tomorrow. (Reminds me of King David crying out to the Lord for
his son’s life (Bathsheba’s child) knowing that God could change the situation
with a single word) They have learned what Peter knows, God is in control.
Not only were the people praying but they were gathered together to pray as a
community. Often when we experience winter we run inside and hide, we try
to shut out the bitter cold by closing things up. Nothing delights satan more than what I call
spiritual hibernation. I once heard a pastor say about these times, “You
will probably never desire community less but you will never need it
more.” Peter knew that even though he was in grave danger, he was covered
in prayer.
The
last step you can follow is to cling tenaciously to hope. In winter you
feel hopeless-dark but you MUST believe that God is at work even in your winter
just as under the soil new plants are only preparing to spring forth. Be
patient…rest and prepare for spring! Peter did not allow his surroundings
to affect his hope. His hope came from inside, from knowing that he was
in God’s hands. If you are familiar with the story of Peter then you know
that God did indeed rescue him. As I mentioned earlier, he is sleeping
soundly between two guards when the angel of the Lord comes to wake him.
As he awakens the chains fall off of his wrists and he is escorted out of the
prison to freedom. Spring has come for Peter and God is glorified by the
temporary struggle. Remember the truth of Romans 8:28, “And we know that
in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
been called according to his purpose.” (NIV emphasis mine) There is
another awesome promise in God’s word. It comes from Psalm 30 verse
5. “…crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning,” (New
Century Version) Peter had that joy and so can
we, just cling to hope and God will not disappoint! He may not answer the
way we think he should or as quickly as we would like but we must trust that He
is a loving father who wants what is best for us.
I
want to end with an incredible story. This is the story of Horatio Spafford. He was really a rather common man, the most noteworthy thing about him was that he served
as lawyer and professor in
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to
say,
It is well, it
is well, with my soul
Chorus:
It is well (it is well) With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it
is well with my soul.
Tho satan
should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless
estate,
And hath shed His own
blood for my soul!
Repeat Chorus
My sin-O joy of this glorious thought-
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I wbear it no more:
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my
soul!
Repeat Chorus
And, Lord, haste the day when my faith
shall be sight,
The clouds be
rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound and the Lord
shall descend,
“Even so” – it is well with my soul.
~Horatio Spafford
Marla Graham
SHINE Ministries