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Saturday, April 25, 2009

When Life Changes


We can't get around it, life changes.
Situations that take our comfort away.

Change SHAKES us up!!

Here are some of the things that shaking does:

1. Shaking can bring us down to our foundation.
Much like an earthquake- picture people wandering around dazzed and confused among the rubble left by an earthquake. Everything was shaken to it’s foundations. They’re walking around like…where did everything go?

Have you ever felt like that? I’ve been there!

Suddenly, everything that we knew as normal and comfortable has crashed down around us and we are left grasping for something to hold onto.

It’s times like that –that this verse is a life line.
Ps 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
NLT


Because we have this promise:
Mal 3:6
6 "I the LORD do not change.
NIV


Your life may have just crashed around you.

***You may have just found out that your husband is into pornography…or a loved one an alcoholic.

***Your husband may have come home and said…the company is closing I’m out of a job- we may lose the house.

***Whatever the change is…the LORD does not change.

Heb 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
NIV


He Wants to walk you through this-will you let Him??

2. Shaking (caused by change) can also mix us up.

When I bake cookies I bring a whole bunch of ingredients together that…if left alone would not taste very good, but when you mix them all together and bake them- choc chip cookies!

Sometimes shaking (from a change) causes us to mix up with people around us more.
It can bring families and old friends together.

Change in our life can greatly affect our circle of friends.
Our circle may look quite different after a shaking in our life.

Sometimes the people we thought would be there forever are no more...
Anyone ever felt lonely?

I have gone through some changes that left me very lonely.

But, those are the times that my relationship with the Lord became so precious to me.
He truly became my All in All during those times.

Goodbye is a necessary life skill.

It may not be forever, but healthy people understand that relationships go through seasons.

3. Sometimes change that brings a shaking exposes the parts of us that we have hidden away- or weren’t even aware were there.
Could be a weakness or a treasure.

Just like after an earthquake, people wander around and find people’s belongings exposed.
Shaking can expose parts of us that may have been hidden, but are suddenly un-earthed.
But- know that if it is un-earthedit is because the Lord wants it to be.

He wants you to bring that weakness or treasure to Him and ask Him what He wants done with it.



Personally, one of these big changes in my life …took away my
identity.
Suddenly I was left reeling with the thought “Who AM I??”

Eventually, I realized that the Lord didn’t want my identity wrapped up in what I DID…He wants my identity to be "His child."

4. One more thing that shaking does is causes us to grab on to something.

What do you run to when life starts shaking and change is happening?

Psalms 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
NIV
My heart breaks for those searching for hope and happiness but looking under rocks to find it.

We are far too easily satisfied.



It's like drinking from a mud puddle when there is a beautiful flowing creek just over the hill, but instead we hang out in the mud puddle.
*** Help is not at the bottom of a bottle.
*** Help is not "being in a different relationship."
*** Help is not in finding a new hobby.
*** Help is not found anywhere but the Lord.
How long will it take before we recognize that the God who created us,
longs for us,
longs to fill us,
to give us hope and joy?
No one will ever love you like He does. He created you for the pleasure of KNOWING you.

Sometimes we are struggling and miserable because we are trying to ignore His voice.
Give it up.

Fall at His feet.

Heb 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.
16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
NIV

Let go of that thing you’re holding on to…
Jonah 2:8
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
NIV


And what if God wants you to change someone’s life? What if you have something that someone else needs and it will be life changing to them?

What if God is shaking you up to raise you up
for the plan He has for your life?

What is in your heart?
What opportunities have the new changes in your life made for you?
Do you have a dream that will change a life?
Now may be the time!



It might just be time to embrace this change instead of resisting it.

How do you embrace change?
By asking yourself; what can I learn from this situation?
Asking, how can I use this for Your glory God?
Praying…Heal the hurts in my heart Lord, so that I can use this shaking to bring peace to hurting hearts.

That is why Jesus came; to heal our hearts and bring relationship between us and the God who made us.

He loves you more than you could ever imagine! Give your life to Him...bring Him your change and let Him do a mighty work in you!!
Will you be a woman that changes the world?
Or at least the world around
you?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great word Sue, I heard from my neighbor who attended and she loved it.(small world). Glad to see the vision God gave you growing!! how exciting Praise God!! Change can be good yes? Amen!

Anonymous said...

OOPS Sorry that anonymous was me, oops:)Have a great weekend:)

LauraLee Shaw said...

This is my kind of post, girl. No matter what is ahead, around or behind us, HE is the only ONE worth holding onto. Love it, love it.

"He wants you to bring that weakness or treasure to Him and ask Him what He wants done with it."That's so insightful, because so many times we bring our weakness, but not our treasure. I'm sure it's the other way around for others as well. Great stuff.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this.

My life is full of change right now and it has shaken me. This reminds me of all the good that can come from change and that since God never changes I will be okay!

Anonymous said...

T;hanks Sue,for sharing so much! Each day I have to see what good thing you have written that will help me see God that day. Even a short verse or observation means so much! I'm glad that God is speaking to us through you!

Unknown said...

I'm feeling that why lately. What am I saying I'm always feeling like the earth is separating from underneath my feet.
My love of the Lord is keep "me" from falling apart.
I'm looking forward to the new adventure that we'll be on.

Peggy said...

I needed to hear

LisaShaw said...

This is a blessing sister! I wish your praise/coffee times together were in my state where I could visit with you. God bless you.

Unknown said...

I really needed this post this morning. After a pretty "shaken" weekend, I found myself week and wanting to hide this morning. I absolutely love what you said "My heart breaks for those searching for hope and happiness but looking under rocks to find it." Its so easy to not look up when its exactly where we need to be looking!
Thank you and God Bless You!

Simply Blessed said...

Wow - How this spoke to me Sunday morning as I had my coffee before getting ready for church.
So many changes: Some joyful and many disapointing ones- have I encountered over the last 22 years and STILL encounter daily....
I am so glad that I have such a wonderful God to support me thru all of them as they continue to come at me.
Sue, You inspire me. Simply put.
Thank you for your postings! They help me as I ams ure they do many others.
Billie

Marlene said...

Thank you, Sue, for that reminder of our identity in Christ. I too lost my "identity" with a job loss last year and was comforted through the process to reignite my identity in Christ.
Blessings to you.

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

This is really good.

Thank you for the much needed reminder.

heidi said...

I am someone who doesn't like change. I like being comfortable. Unfortunately & Fortunately for me, the Lord wants me to experience change periodically. I've come to realize that the Lord always knows the big picture and because of that, he wants me to learn/experience something fresh...maybe I have something to teach someone else or maybe I can learn from someone else. He never seems to let me get too comfortable.

The hardest part is remembering to be thankful. To be thankful in all circumstances. I lost a baby recently (miscarriage) and some how the Lord was really speaking to my heart at that moment and I heard Him...and out of my heart and mouth came, "Thank you." I even shocked myself. But I felt thankful to have had that brief time with that wee little one inside of me and it felt okay to let him/her go. The Lord was loving my baby. Sure I felt jealous that it was Him holding and loving my baby but I also felt GREAT love that He cared for my baby even more so.

Denise said...

This is speaking to a lot of us, Sue. Thanks for sharing what God has laid on your heart....

amy & lisa said...

Thank you. Thank you.
You are SUCH a blessing.

Annie said...

Beautiful...beautiful...how easy it is to praise our Lord when things go right but how often is He left behind when the boat of life gets rocked.
Fortunately, when I turn to Him in the midst of the storm, He always guides my heart to where it needs to be. I live near Detroit but would love to attend one of your Coffee nights. Do you ever do them on Saturdays?

Anonymous said...

Great article! I am experiencing change right now and I am so thankful for it.

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