Overwhelmed.....the Lord's response

In response to my desperate plea's for the Lord's help; the Lord send an encouraging word through my new Pastor via email. Read on, and may it minister to you as it did to me!

Greetings Lifers,

So I’m getting ready to go the gym this past week, right around lunch time, when I realize something is missing. Shorts? Check. Socks? Check. Shoes? Got both of those, too. What’s missing? My IPod - without this little miracle of modern technology the drudgery of my already labored running becomes a virtual death march in the humidity of the noonday sun. Some people like the quiet, and I suppose at times it soothes my soul, but not so much when it comes to the monotony of running. My music keeps my legs pumping – I get syncopated with the rhythm of the songs, get lost in the poetry of the lyrics, and before I know it I’ve reached my destination. So crucial to my trek is this device that I drive home to retrieve it before I my run commences. With some fortuitous stoplight sequences, I make it back to work in time. Operation “Pound the Pavement” is a “go”.

So fast forward through some brief stretching and the early portion of my run – I’m now at a point in the journey where I am as far from the office as I am close to my destination. The halfway point. It’s a kind of “hump day” in my daily run, a point where I know that most of the run is behind me, and what lies before me is still arduous, but imminently more doable than it seemed after my first few steps. I think we can all relate – everybody likes to see the finish line at the end of a long race.

My breathing and steps are in time with my music, I’m nearing the end, and all is well. All except the sky, that is.

I hadn’t checked the latest Doppler reading before I began running, but if I had I could have saved myself a drenching. I’m now ¾ of my way to my destination, and the sky is growing dark. I dismiss it as just one cloud, and figure that my blazing speed will serve me well in missing any real precipitation (note sarcasm). No sooner has this thought crossed my mind that the one cloud is joined by many, the wind starts to gust, and I feel those first drops that come with any storm. A light drizzle floats down around me, and soon my glasses need wipers that I don’t have, and I am covering the exposed IPod strapped to my arm with a sweaty shirt sleeve. “Keep going”, I tell myself, “it’s going to hold off until you get done”.

Not so much.

Ever been outside when a real nasty storm cloud is bearing down on your area and you can actually see the line where the rain is? As I’m running down the street, I see the wall of rain awaiting me, drops the size of sinks exploding off the pavement. This is going to get wet – fast.

I run through my options – turn and run from the cloud (physically impossible), hide under a porch to avoid getting wet (stupid, since I’m already muchos sweaty and damp from the drizzle, and stopping would significantly diminish my desire for and the impact of continued exercise), call a cab (no phone), or just go for it. Sure I’ll get wet, and my subsequent workout at the gym will be equal parts humiliating (ever work out in the form fitting wonder of saturated clothes?) and uncomfortable (wet clothes and shoes + air conditioning – energy sapped form running in the rain = uncomfortable). But the rain isn’t going away – I need to go through. So I do, wind howling, rain pelting, puddles splashing. I run through the rain to get where I need to go.

So here’s my question – have you started a journey, gotten past the halfway point and eased into cruising speed on the backstretch only to run into unthinkable storms along the way? Have these storms caused you to question your journey and given you pause in your progress? Let me remind you that God uses the storms to deepen us, to strengthen us, to challenge us. Sure it’ll be difficult, but in the end, the destination matters more than the conditions of the journey. So may you and I run with perseverance this race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12) May we pursue what God has for us through all of life’s obstacles and find ourselves right where we are intended to be. God never guaranteed an easy road, but He promises to walk it with us.

Free,

Mark Saunders
Senior Pastor
Bay Life Church
1017 Kingsway Road
Brandon, FL, 33510

Overwhelmed.....

I am overwhelmed right now. I don't know what to do. Nothing I can do, really. Lord, I need Your help right now, I need Your peace. Nothing else will help me right now.

Take me to that place, Lord, to that secret place, where I can be with you, where You can make me like You. Wrap me in Your arms.......I need You desperately right now, Lord.

And the Church is........

I have chosen a church, or rather, it chose me! Baylife - Riverview. It is a church plant that begins August 17th. I will be a part of 200+ people going from the main church in Brandon, Florida. I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in my new community! Please continue to pray for Steve and I! Here is the web site: www.baylifeweb.org

Where Joy and Sorrow Meet.......

There's a place of quiet stillness 'tween the light and shadows reach
Where the hurting and the hopeless seek everlasting peace
Words of men and songs of angels whisper comfort bittersweet
Mending grief and life eternal where joy and sorrow meet

There is a place where hope remains
In crowns of thorns and crimson stains
And tears that fall on Jesus' feet
Where joy and sorrow meet

There's a place the lost surrender and the weary will retreat
Full of grace and mercy tender in times of unbelief
For the wounded there is healing, strength is given to the weak
Broken hearts find love redeeming where joy and sorrow meet

There's a place of thirst and hunger where the roots of faith grow deep
And there is rain and rolling thunder when the road is rough and steep
There is hope in desperation there is victory in defeat
At the cross of restoration where joy and sorrow meet
Avalon

I love you, my precious friend. I hope somehow that the tears I have been shedding will somewhat ease your burden of tears for a time. As your heart is breaking, know He is in that place, the place where joy and sorrow meet....

Blind Bartimaeus

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."

And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.

So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:46-52

What I love about this story in the Bible is that it is SO relevant to us today! How many times when you have been crying out to the Lord for something, and the enemy convinces you that the Lord can't hear you; or perhaps you felt like jumping up in the middle of a church service where the Lord has shown up and you wanted to dance like David did because of what He has brought you out of that week, only to be stiffled by religion to sit back down and be afraid to step up and out?

Blind Bartimaeus heard that Jesus (his deliverer, his healer) was about to pass by. He KNEW Jesus could heal him, and he wasn't gonna let anything keep him from getting what Jesus had for him! They told him to be quiet, but he yelled out even louder! His desire for his healing was a lot stronger than his fear of what people thought! It also says that when Jesus called for him, he threw off his garment, a garment that all those who were disabled and begged as a means of survival, wore. That says to me that he KNEW that Jesus was gonna change his life, and he threw off that garment as a means of stepping out in faith, believing that when Jesus was done with him, he would never need that beggars garment again! He knew who Jesus was, what He could do, and believed that it was his time!

I am gonna continue to cry out, and to dance before my Lord because I KNOW WHO JESUS IS! I KNOW WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME AND WHAT HE CAN DO! And most importantly, I KNOW HE LOVES ME!

God is the same; yesterday, today, and forever!

Problems? Circumstances that seem too huge to possibly have a good result? Good news, my God is the same; yesterday, today, and forever! Read on and be blessed as I was!

"If He could do it for Moses, Noah, and David, He can do it for you! He knows your name, everything about you - your past, and your future.

From the day you were born, heaven began to form a sound - just for you!"

"From the day you took My breath, I began to form something that no one else could take."

Yet I am hearing those, those who are desperate to hear..."Lord where are You taking me now?"

I would say to you, " Have I ever, ever let you down? Have I ever walked away? Do you know me to walk away when darkness surrounds your life? Yet I'm hearing here tonight someone's fight that I gave up on you..."

"There is someone here tonight who needs some Holy light. But will you take it? Have I ever let you down? Have I ever walked away when you called My Holy Name? Have I ever turned away when you've come beyond the veil?"

"I've always been there; come if you want, if you're desperate enough, I'll meet you there when you come to Me in prayer!"

He never, ever changes; He's the same yesterday and forever! If He did it yesterday, He'll do it again.

Whatever your need, it's nothing to God. If He solved the problems yesterday, why not today's? If for Moses, if for Noah, if for David, why not for you?

Think of those in the Halls of Faith. He did something for them that never happened before - if He did it for them, WHY NOT YOU??

"Listen to us, Lord, we know You can do it for us. You can put us in the Hall of Faith like You did yesterday!

If You did it for David, You can do it for us!
If You did it for Moses, You can do it for us!
If You did it for Daniel, You can do it for us!
If You did it for Jeremiah, You can do it for us!
If You did it for Peter, You can do it for us!

You will never ever change, You are the same yesterday, today and forever!

The Lord wants to do something different for someone through you!

"The air, the atmosphere is filled with clean destiny!" Kim Clement

Three Weeks

I just got back from taking Steve to the Tampa International Airport. He will be spending about three weeks in Minneapolis with his Dad. They are going fishing, boating, camping, etc. He is also going to try to get his motorcycle license. All the things sons like to do with their fathers! I am so happy for Steve. And for Kris. Reconciliation is a great thing.

On the other hand, I have never spent this amount of time away from Steve. Longest time was a week when he went to Arizona. So....what to do, what to do????

We are in the middle of the rainy season, so may not be able to do any beach time. However, I may have to check out some places. Plus got the job hunt going on. Of course I am open to whatever the Lord has for me in this season.

First church visit

Steve and I visited a church today. It was very small and very different from where we come from. Not necessarily a bad thing. We sang out of hymnals. Steve loved it. They loved him! Met a real life squirrel lady. Yep, precious saint with about 5 teeth, who loves the Lord with her whole heart! She rescues squirrels and also has two owls. That has to be a sight. She promised to show them to me. Then there was Frank, the practical joker who got me several times with his jokes! The bad thing is that everyone (but me)knew the jokes and were watching me fall; hook, line and sinker for them all. Following the service there was a party for one of the church members, her 78th birthday. We stayed and had lunch and cake.

A new church home, not sure. I love the pastor though and have an awesome connection with him. Time will tell.

Home

I am home. Everyday gets easier, and I am sleeping again! The house is beautiful, as is the area. Went to Clearwater the other evening. Deb and I were all sweaty (yes, me more so than her!!!) so we decided to take a dip in the pool to cool off. Then we decided to put the top down on her rental car and take a drive to the ocean so our hair could dry! We walked on the beach, and had dinner at a restaurant that was right on the beach. Yep, a mighty fine evening!

Courtney and Jake just left. They drove down to bring Steve and the dog, Sophie. They spent alot of time at the various beaches, being that it was the first time Jake had ever seen the ocean.

Fighter jets just flew over the house! What an awesome thing! They are REALLY loud, but amazing none the less. They come from Mac dill Air force Base that is a mere 15 minutes away.

To some this all up; I am THANKFUL, BLESSED, and EXCITED to see what is next! Oh, I also have a new addition to my family, albeit and temporary one. My brother and sister-in-law's dog, Bebe. A miniature chiwawa (i know, i cant spell, so i will do it phonetically) I will have her until February. Good thing I have a king sized bed, HAHA!

Just a few more hours!

Here I am at 12:20 in the morning, can't sleep........

I am leaving one season, and entering another. Tempted to be scared, but the Word says that I am loved PERFECTLY. And that PERFECT love casts out ALL fear. So I choose not to be scared.

So I will fall asleep praying for all the people the Lord puts in my path; whether to minister to, to love, to serve, to comfort, to clothe, to feed, to shelter, to proclaim liberty to, to befriend, to encourage, to make introductions to my best friend, to marry perhaps; whatever the case may be, I'll be praying for them tonight!