God's Ability.....Do we really believe He is ABLE?

Back in September I had the opportunity to attend a Deeper Still Conference with Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore. It was an amazing weekend and I was challenged so much in my faith and how I view God and live that out in my life. Each of these women are amazing examples of faith. All three of them have inspiring journeys of faith. I left that conference re-engerized and empowered.

That weekend there is one thing that has stuck with me the most. Priscilla Shirer spoke to us about God's ability. She spoke on Ephesians 3:20, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." I can still see Priscilla taking huge steps across the stage as she was making her point about God's ability. It's too hard for me to describe what it was that she was doing, but it got the point across!

Ever since then, I have wondered do we really believe God is able? I know we can say God is able, but do our actions and our journey of faith display to others that we really, truly believe He is able. I know for me I believe God is able, but I don't always live like I believe that. I love I worship and follow a God who is able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or think.

Whatever we ask God for, He is able to do far more ABUNDANTLY than that! I believe that here in America we don't see the kind of miracles you hear about from missionaries across the world because we don't ask and we don't believe HE is able. I think we've become complacent with how things are and we don't ask for God-size miracles. I don't think we expect God to perform miracles like that here in America. I have heard countless stories of missionaries and their experiences with our God who is able. I believe they witness and experience all of that because they know, believe and live out that God is able.

Priscilla's message challenged me to not only believe that He is able, but to act like He is able. I hope it challenges you to think about what is you believe about God's ablility. Do you believe God is able to do far more abundantly than all that you ask or think? Or do you believe that God is able sometimes or maybe even not at all?

In closing, let me share a story with you about a little girl who experienced God's ability firsthand. Last Christmas Eve, a precious 9 year old girl was rushed to the ER. She had been a normal, healthy little girl and something went horribly wrong. She was airlifted to Gainesville from Orlando, where her family learned that a virus had attacked her heart and that she would need a heart transplant. Talk about devastating news, but this family trusted in their God and His ability to heal their daughter. This little girl lay in a hospital bed attached to a machine called the Berlin Heart and she endured so much. The Berlin Heart is an artificial heart that would sustain her until she could receive a heart transplant. This sweet, precious and God-fearing family waited with anticipation for the God they served to heal their daughter. They believed God would be her Healer! They never wavered in their faith and their belief in God's ability. It was trying a time, but God answered their prayers and delivered. On April 15, 2009, she received her new heart! I have had the privilege and honor of getting to know this little girl and her family! Believe me when I say, they live out what they believe. This little girl's name is Gracyn. She is 10 years old now and almost a year later is doing absolutely fantastic! What a miracle she is and she has touched many lives with her faith in God, including mine!

I hope that whatever it is you may be facing in your life, that you never forget we serve a God who is able! A God who waits to be gracious to us and shower us with His love and mercy! Always Remember...GOD IS ABLE!

If you would like to read more about Gracyn and her amazing story, you can go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/gracyndenbesten

Welcome to the Waiting Room

Hello and welcome to the Waiting Room,

Do you ever feel like your life is like one giant waiting room? Like you are always waiting for the next thing whether it be a job, a relationship, or material things. Well, I believe we all go through seasons in our lives when we are just waiting. Waiting can be incredibly difficult, especially when we live in a society where we want everything now. We aren't very good at waiting, honestly waiting can just get irritating sometimes. What I have been learning over the past 4 months in my life is how valuable waiting can be, however, if we let go we may realize that it is not always a bad thing.

I've thought a lot about what God says about waiting. That got me to thinking about the Israelites. They waited to be delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, God delivered them. Then the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, they were waiting to reach the Promised Land. However, not all of them made it to the promised land, that is because they got tired of waiting on the Lord and decided their way was better than His way.

In my quiet time the other day, I was reading Isaiah 30:18, "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." The part of the verse that really caught my attention is blessed are all those who wait for Him. When we wait on the Lord, he will bless us and He longs to be gracious to us. Wow, how awesome is that!!

Even though waiting can be difficult, we should never forget that the Lord blesses those who wait on Him. We also have to always remember, the Lord sees the whole picture and in His timing He will reveal to us the things He wants us to see and know! I stand in awe of a God who holds the future in His hands, and all I have to do is trust and wait on Him!