Why We Are Here
If you are a reader of the blog posts, then you saw this one. If you aren’t, then I want to call your attention to it.
Amanda Youngblood wrote this post. I have known Amanda for some time. She lives here in central Florida. She has been a faithful supporter for many years. I once spoke at her church. Now she needs us. That’s why At God’s Table exists–to make sure no one falls through the cracks.
So, here’s what Amanda wrote. Now I am going to do something about it with money contributed by you over time. If you also want to do something about it, just let me know.
AMANDA WROTE:
This post is incredibly challenging for me right now. My family is walking and living in a wilderness (and it seems like we’ve been there for years). My husband has been without work for months (and even with trying to find work, has had very little success). Our savings are gone, and we have finally reached that point where there is just not enough money to pay the bills each week. Each time we try to do something to fix the situation, God brings another catastrophe (medical or dental issues for the children, broken down cars, work that cancels last minute, etc.). I have truly lived in the “I’ve got to fix it myself” world since I’ve been in charge of making sure everything “works” in our family. And now… I cannot fix this.
I find comfort in the remembrance of a dream I had in which God pretty much told me I wouldn’t be able to fix it. I know He certainly is capable of preparing a table in the wilderness and that He is there. Yet, in the midst of struggle and pain (especially acute when you have two small children, one of whom has a disability), I don’t know how to walk this out. I cry out… but if His answer is more pain and more crushing and more struggle, eventually I stop crying out because I don’t even know what to say. I don’t want to pray my will over my life (I know His will is still, somehow, better). And, knowing that at least part of this is for my husband to learn, all I can do is watch and wait.
I know that things could be much, much worse. However, I know that it is incredibly difficult to KNOW that He’s always there when it feels like He’s removed His hand and is letting life pummel us. After confronting my fears of not being able to pay our bills (which seems that would not be something God would be for – not paying those we owe), losing our good credit and name, not being able to properly feed my family, and more, there is still nothing I can do. And I don’t know if there’s something we’ve done (or not done) that we’re being punished for, or if there’s something we’re supposed to learn (in which case, it would be helpful to know what it is). Perhaps this shows a misunderstanding of God (of this, I’m pretty sure).
And so I wait. What else can I do? I have no choice but to let God provide. Even if I don’t understand what that looks like, how it’s possible, or even if He will actually provide. Promises are wonderful, but either I don’t understand the promises, or they’re not for me and my family, or I just show that once again, I don’t understand the deep workings of God.
Ah, faith. Such a simple word. Such a difficult thing to live and walk.
Sorry for the short essay. I’m learning some difficult things (or hope I am learning). It feels good to share a little of the struggles of my soul, especially when this post (and the ones after it – Sept.2-7) so speak to this wilderness where I wander.
May the God of shalom fill our hearts with shalom beyond what we can understand.
My wife and I have walked down this road and she with a husband who is disabled. Everything you’ve said I’ve felt, experienced, and gone through. Here’s what I’ve come to and I got there through some books written by Bill Johnson of Bethel Church Redding. One was called Strengthen Yourself in the Lord and the other was Dreaming With God.
I also joined iBethel.tv since I wasn’t always able to get to church. What I got from this fellowship was encouragement. And when I needed prayer for healing, I could call on Saturday’s and someone would pray with me. Often things improved.
Part of thinking must be changed. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy and that’s what he’s doing with you. And we’ve experienced it.
We’ve begun getting breakthrough by looking at a more accurate translation of Deut 28 where the Lord tells us to, “harken harken to His voice.” As I learned to sit and listen, and this didn’t happen overnight, I learned to keep a notebook handy and write down what I thought God was saying to me. Out of this (see http://www.alexanderpublishing.com) came two video lecture series, Visual Orchestration and Scoring Stages: Bruckner and Film Scoring. This has opened brand new doors for us. Recently the estate of an Academy Award winning film composer asked me to take his works and turn them into video training lectures for other composers.
The very first should release next week.
I didn’t do this. It wasn’t my idea. Especially Bruckner!
Now, on the flip side, at my former Baptist church, I asked a pastor to pray for my healing. He prayed I wouldn’t be selfish to ask for healing and instead accept my fate.
I never went back.
Scripture says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
Proverbs 16:24 Young’s:
Sayings of pleasantness are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
My wife’s testimony and mine is that Abba Father, rescues His children.
Feel free to write us: lacomposers@gmail.com.
We’ll be glad to pray with you.
Peter Alexander
Wow, Peter thank you so much for your amazing encouragement. It’s amazing how it’s so easy to feel alone in the wilderness. I will read the scripture you mention (learning to listen and listen well is something I am learning). And I am definitely going to find those books you mention. I’m thrilled about your upcoming release! Praise YHVH for speaking and inspiring and moving for you!
Skip Shalom
I like to help with this need, please let me know how I can send you an offering for this family.
Shalom
Juvenny
Hi Juvenny,
So nice to hear from you. You can make a donation to At God’s Table on the web site and just mark it for Amanda. I will take care of it.
I hope to see you again.
Dear Amanda;
We too have walked the road. I learned perseverance only comes through LONG suffering. But the
beauty of Him is He is close to the brokenhearted and binds their wounds. He did for me. The longer
I lingered in His presence, the joy of Him surrounded me like a cloud, melting all the worries away.
I am thankful for the ‘Life Lines’ He sends us to keep us loving Him, thanking Him, worshipping Him that draws me near to His heart; here are some examples.
One life line Is a CD, I listened over and over again, by Graham Cooke on the The Wilderness (on you tube ) that stated “G-d only takes those to the wilderness who He wants love on, and draw you close to Himself”(paraphrased). When you are in trouble your focus on Him becomes hyper focused! I am learning to linger at the look of His love for me through His Word giving me the endurance.
Another life line is by Sylvia Gunter, Thefathersbusiness.com “Strength to Equal your Days” (as well as other devotions) teaching me. hope you can take a minute to look up the prayer.
Another life line is scripture. I asked for scriptures to HOLD me; Hebrews 10:23 is one that encouraged my heart “We HOLD unswervingly to the HOPE we confess; for HE who promised is faithful.” Hold on! Tether yourself to Him so you can keep on keeping on with Joy!
Yes, the family of believers, at Gods Table, will come along side you; a great life line! May the givers arise to help you, encourage you, love on you and pray for you and your family! Skip’s devotion and blogs have
continued my ability to understand the Word and grow closer to Him.
And yes, we are coming out on the other side, nothing short of a miracle as well.
Lori
Hi Lori,
I started crying when I read your post. I think I’ve missed the beauty of Him. And, I’m rediscovering it through this community’s stories and gifts and encouragement. I will look up the resources you mentioned because it’s amazing all the places where God can and does speak (if I will be still). I’m glad you are coming out of the other side. And your testimony is strengthening those who are still in the midst of it all. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Maybe these catastrophes are not brought into your life by God, but rather by His enemy. Maybe it’s time to resist him.
How? Specifically and with detail, how? If you have something specific to her situation please offer it. If not, IMO this kind of statement feeds confusion, self-condemnation and despair.
Here are some other golden oldies that do nothing to help:
– Let go and let God.
– God is still on His throne.
– You need to have more faith.
– Are you tithing?
– Do you have unconfessed sin in your life?
I couldn’t agree more. Time to do what the second great commandment requires and let angels and demons sort out the rest.
YHVH does allow and use the enemy to strengthen us. Remember what Paul said about the thorn. But the story of Job reminds us that God is ALWAYS in charge and Yeshua reminds us that we are all responsible for each other. So there is no excuse to sit back and let God or the enemy do battle. We must fight along with our sister.
Amanda, we too have experienced a long stretch of life where a seemingly unending string of bad things happening keeps coming at you. The latest for us is a five year old granddaughter who had a seizure in late May and who was eventually diagnosed with a very rare and untreatable brain cancer. Short of intervention from God, the medical diagnosis is death.
Why? Why her? Why won’t God answer my literal cry to spare her?
This is just the latest in a string of things that began in February 2008 with an inattentive driver crashing into our daughter’s car.
Since then we’ve had two more day dreaming drivers hit one of us, my wife has had two grave illnesses, a successful career if tech slowly melted away, we went through all our savings, we had to short sell our house, I had emergency spinal fusion surgery which ended up costing me a new business venture… and… there’s plenty more but I won’t bore you.
I have struggled with Skip’s teaching on God heaping affliction on those who can take it. (That is my interpretation and my words not his.) I have come to feel like Tevya from Fiddler on the roof: feel free to choose someone else.
I can pray praise and honor and thanksgiving to God but I struggle to pray petition. If God won’t answer me for our granddaughter why would I believe he is actually going to move on any other petition.
We got a call Saturday morning from our son that we should travel the 700 miles to their home ASAP to see her before she gets even worse.
I realize that this kind of thing happens everyday to someone. I realize that I am not “special.” I am not shielded by checking off the right religious boxes.
I have no five point plan for you. The truth is that it can and could get worse. That doesn’t mean that it will.
Cling to those who love you. Give Him praise in the midst of this. Do not deny Him or His character.
Thank you, Daniel. REAL is where we are. Platitudes mean nothing in the face of pain. And now that I know about your circumstances, what can I do to help?
I don’t know Skip. I don’t yet understand your teaching on God choosing people for suffering. It flies in the face of everything I want to believe. I’m not sure I agree with you but that makes you neither right nor wrong.
I deal with bitterness towards God. Why us? What did I do wrong?
Still, the roots of faith are deep enough in my life to not follow Job’s wife’s advice to curse Him and die. I’ve come close to doing the first half of that more than once.
I remember Job and that helps me get a grip. Job had no clue what was going on behind the scenes. Maybe I don’t either.
My wife and I left for California four hours after our son called Saturday. We are sitting in their living room. My wife is holding the sick one while her Mom gets ready for yet another trip to the hospital.
I want to understand your teachings on suffering, death, and others. That’s a matter of taking time while we are here.
Amanda, a few more things:
– The story of Job has been a guide. I don’t know what is going on in places to which I have no entrance.
– Press the delete key on people and organizations that mostly contribute to making you feel guilty or a loser.
– It can be worse. Sometimes I let myself think about how it could be worse. That goes against everything American and evangelical but it helps me. When I allow myself this exercise it ends in thanksgiving to God because he spared me other potential outcomes. For instance, our granddaughter is dieing. (spelling ???) But the doctors said in June she should be in a coma. She is not. She is on my wife’s lap listening to her read a book. That is grace. That is favor. That is love and God giving something good and valuable even in the midst of a horrible time.
Because of health issues I’ve had since birth, I can relate directly to where you are and totally understand it, including being angry (how about furious!) at God for things that happened in my life. After a while, especially with what I call “Christian Stoicism” teaching, the anger built and I found myself staying away from Abba Father. Here I discovered that part of the problem was my perception built from a high performance standard from my own father, which God had not put on me.
A lifting began to occur when I would sit in my place for prayer (my recording studio) and just go, “Ok Abba, Father, here’s what I’m mad at.” I would then work it out in English (vs a prayer language which I have) and then eventually it would get around to why specifically I was mad at God. The list was as tall as a land fill!
And I didn’t work it out overnight, but I have been working it out.
Even as a professional music composer, I’m only now getting back to the place where I can write a new praise song (or praise composition). In the psalms, especially Psalm 88, Heman is my guy. He says it, without a hap-hap-happy ending. So I learn from Heman being included in the Psalms that I can be this gut honest with God, whether it’s sung or journaled.
But as I said above to Amanda, you must be surrounded by Christians who know how to and do encourage. And if iBethel.tv is your only place, then start there.
We are NOT designed for DIY Christianity.
PA
Daniel,
I continue to pray to YHVH on behalf of that Little One, that Grandma’s bleeding heart and the agony your entire family is facing. I know that, sometimes, the grief I face feels so heavy that I’m pretty sure I will stop breathing. I’m guessing that, unless God has touched Little One with His Hand of supernatural Healing, you feel the same way. Just keep breathing… in and out… in and out.
The LORD’s Hand is upon you in this suffering.
Skip,
I responded to Daniel’s post with a link to a website that may benefit his granddaughter, but I don’t know if he will see it or not. Can you see if you can forward it to him? The link is http://health-parameters.com/
Thanks.
Jordan
Daniel, my heart aches for you and your family. You are walking a wilderness even harder than the one we are walking in. And it’s one that leaves all of us heartbroken, because we wish we could do something. I will pray. That is all I know to do and all I can do. I don’t know what to petition either, but I will pray for His hand to move in mighty and unfathomable ways to show His power and to glorify His name, even in all this. In your words I sense your strength and conviction. Thank you for encouraging me (and all of us) to stand firm in trusting and believing in God’s character and praising Him even when/if it gets worse. Will you please keep us updated sometimes with how things are going? Or you can email me: amanda at raisingwarriors.us.
Daniel,
I don’t know what your family believes in terms of health care choices, but I have heard good things about the woman who writes on the website:
http://health-parameters.com/
I think if it were my little one who were sick I would prayerfully consider consulting with her.
May He bless your family.
Jordan
What Skip said – Me too!
New American Standard Bible (©1995) Ecc. &:14
In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider– God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.
Oh my dear Amanda…
I will not go into all that has befallen us over the last three years… But I can say I know the exact same thoughts and feelings you are having. “I want to believe, help my unbelief” is my cry now… I have no control over anything! G-d has taken all my control or lets say my illusion of control. Though I don’t understand, and my world is falling apart before my eyes… I have to agree with you that there is nothing else I can do but wait and trust that He will make a way. I see now a glimpse of hope, but I’ve lost much ground… or was it all just sinking sand? Either way on His word I stand… He has made all my days and knows His plans for me.
I beg now Oh great and mighty King, that through it all you will strengthen Amanda and her family I pray You will show them the way You have set before them and provide all their needs beyond even their own desire! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to bring these your beloved ones before your face.
Blessings to you and your family,
antoinette
Thank you Antoinette. Your prayers and encouragement are a blessing to us. Thank you!
My dear Amanda;
You question your faith, but your letter shows you are walking it out. Faith is simply getting up the next day and doing again what you know to do at the time, without knowing whether it will make a difference. It’s just getting up again and doing it again, day after day until one day you notice that you are now looking back on the harder time. It helped for me when I began to recognize that trials are the normal part of living. When I have a period of respite, it is only for the purpose of building me up to face the next trial.
I don’t know what the outcome is for your family; but I do know from experience that sometimes we find there are changes that must be made which seemed unthinkable when things were better. So often, in the midst of my difficulty, I could not believe that what was happening or what I needed to do (which was often advice from what I thought was a “worldly perspective”) was of God, and yet ,when I look back now, I see the clear thread of His workings through all that I didn’t understand.
I continue to learn that I have more faith than I think and that God works in ways, which at the time (often because of church teaching), I don’t want to think are His. I will be praying for you and I’ve also sent a little practical help for the pressing financial needs. We are here for you.
Suzanne, I truly appreciate your words. My faith feels feeble at best right now, and I think sometimes that’s almost as difficult as this wilderness. I lose sight of who God is. I understand the Isra’elites that much better in their journey through the desert. And, as a teacher, the not understanding is tough. But, I am learning to be okay with not knowing or understanding. I am also learning to go back to the beginning and rediscover who God is (what He says, and not what my experiences tell me). Now, if I can just let it sink all the way through my brain and down into my heart. Perhaps that’s the new heart Jeremiah (I think) prophesied about. Thank you for your prayers and for your generosity.
Skip let me know how to send you something to help them.
Easy. Make a contribution to At God’s Table on the web site (one-time donation) and just add a note that it is for Amanda. I’ll do the rest.
I know what it is like to be shackled by God. At the time, I kept blaming Satan, but my perspective on it changed when I began to consider that it was God who sat me down in a corner and said, “You can’t get up until I say you can get up.”
I believe He wanted to bring me to a place where I recognized and fully accepted his sovereignty. I believe He wanted to bring me to a place of dependence on Him and total surrender to Him. I am a tough nut to crack, it took a few years for me to submit to it. But it was a make-or-break for my faith. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change it. I never would have said that at the time. I was more miserable than I had ever been before.
I ache to hear what you’re going through and I wish I could tell you a formula for convincing God to ease up and give you a break from these circumstances.
But I know you are in His hand. Keep trusting. Keep going. Cling to His word and you know what… be real and raw with Him in your prayers. I came to God after years of being an “angry atheist”. There is nothing I haven’t said to Him. My prayers have become more reverent and respectful, but I try to keep them honest and real. My greatest comfort from God has been given to me just after a raging, crying, fist-pounding maelstrom of prayer. I have wrestled with Him many times, and I know this: He afflicts us but He blesses us for our persistence.
I can’t say I would return to the most difficult trials in my life. I am in a season of reprieve right now. But I have to say, I *felt* God far more intimately during those times than I have since the trial has been lifted. And that… I miss. Our dependence on Him brings great intimacy.
I hope I haven’t said anything hurtful or damaging… I know you are in a struggle and your heart is raw. There is no comfort like what He can give, but I hope I haven’t come across as a “false comforter”.
Keep holding onto Him. I pray that He will prepare your heart for His will, prepare you and train you for each phase of this trial, that He will strengthen and guide you, that He will be tender as He teaches you, and that He will quiet your broken heart with His comfort and steadfast love.
I’m sending a little something through Skip to help your family now. It isn’t much but I hope it helps.
Alicia, no your words have not been hurtful at all! I am so grateful for your hindsight. It’s encouraging to know that others have walked similar roads. (And I enjoyed your imagery. :)) He is definitely bring me to that same place He brought you – to a recognition of and dependence on His sovereignty. And He is showing me the true meaning of community through you and everyone else here. Thank you for your prayers for my family. I know deep down that the prayers of the righteous ones are powerful (even if God has other plans). Shalom in your season of respite and strength and blessings for any seasons to come.
~*~ those are my arms reaching out to give you a hug!
My heart knows all to well the suffering of a mothers heart bears when she and her husband are struggling to keep a roof over their children’s head and food in their bellies. But the story does not end in the struggle the book of Job has helped me through some dark times the stillbirth of our daughter, my husbands turn to alcohol to wash away the pain and now after making a move half way across the country for a new job and having that job fall through after the move, living in a tent in my parents back yard with 5 children 11 and under…not because they don’t have room for us but because we wont go to their sunday church we are not welcome in their home. Each day is a battle for my children’s hearts and each day I struggle to honor my parents and train my children in the way they should go…and each day I lean on the one who is there when the deer gives birth.
Oh my Jill, you have walked through dark places! Thank you for sharing some of the struggles of your journey. I am so amazed at your strength and courage at standing your ground about what you believe, even in the face of your family’s disapproval. What an incredible example of faith and obedience! The more I read of the stories here, the more I know that I don’t walk alone, and my story of struggle, while it feels overwhelming to me, is in some ways small compared to hurts that you and others are enduring. Thank you again for sharing. I will pray for you and your family.
$ and prayers for At God’s Table, the work of YHVH, is on its way for this precious, suffering woman. Amanda, I commit now to cry out to the One True God often and consistently on your behalf. Look for His Miracles. You have been given much wisdom in these posts.
Daniel, I especially want to thank you for using this time in your life, a most dreadful time, for your simple yet perfect words of encouragement and wisdom. I sing praises to God as a Grandma right at this very minute; your wife has been given the miracle of baby still awake and hearing/feeling Grandma read to her! We want to help your family, too, so please stay in close contact.
Daria, thank you for your generosity to my family. Your words made me smile, and I can sense your passionate (compassionate) heart. We fully appreciate your prayers for us. Shalom!
There was a time I believed that God shackled me. And I have the health issues and trounced career to “verify” this. However, what I discovered is that which is contrary to much teaching, viz, when I choose to walk in the way, the roaring lion who seeks to intimidate me will be there. In Luke it says that Satan left Jesus waiting for a more opportune time. As with Jesus, so with us.
Consequently, I want to firmly encourage you to find a place of spiritual encouragement – a good Body, or iBethel.tv if you can’t find one locally, or both. We are given spiritual gifts, from and chosen by the Holy Spirit, the purpose of which is to build one another up, and that includes encouraging one another.
When you are in a place of biblical encouragement, over time, you begin to see differently, especially about yourself. Self-condemnation is a significant tool of satan and he uses it because it works.
Said Jesus in the Beattitudes (my translation): Happy are those who are free and clear of the junk in their mind and emotions – they will see God.
Healthy fellowship, Scripture reading and recitation, and journaling to get your anger and frustration out all contribute to clearing out the junk in your mind and emotions. David didn’t journal he wrote songs. But you see the idea.
Eph 2:10 says God has a plan for you, your husband, and your little disabled one. But sometimes we have ask God to reveal it, especially with our daily jobs/career.
Gen 1 declares that you and your husband as a couple are blessed and that you are both called to subdue and conquer. People who pursue subduing and conquering get slugged by the Enemy. But we’re empowered to slug right back. Even theologians at Dallas Theological Seminary agree on that point! Unfortunately, is rarely taught and most often, especially in cessationist circles, we’re taught a type of Christian stoicism.
In the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught us to say:
Lead us not into hard testing (peirasmos)
but deliver (rescue) us from the evil one.
For those who bravely and graciously shared in this thread, what do you need God to rescue you from?
As instructed by Jesus, put it in a list and with consistent persistence put it before the Lord, multiple times a day, and then harken harken to His voice to hear what to do what He says, even if that means changes in your own life.
HTH,
PA
Peter, thank you so much for your words of encouragement and your challenge to keep petitioning God for the things we need (although sometimes I’m not even sure what that is). You’re right that the enemy likes to whisper his lies. And there are ones that I’ve believed. Some of what I’m learning now is actually unlearning the lies (that God doesn’t really care or that He doesn’t follow through on His promises) and relearning the truth (that He says He is gracious and loving and generous). We will keep standing and fighting. Thank you for standing with us.
Jesus said to bar Timaeus – “What do you want me to do for you?”
Put that question with Phil 4:-6
Hi everyone,
I wanted to follow up and say an immense thank you to the amazing outpouring of honesty, encouragement, and financial gifts that you have all given in the last few days. My husband and I received some of your generosity today and almost fell over. You have blessed us so greatly by your kindness. I know that some of you feel your gifts were small, but God has multiplied what you have given. Your gifts will allow us to pay our bills while my husband finds something stable, and will allow us also to keep going with the therapy my son needs.
Beyond financially blessing us, you have blessed us with your hearts. As I’ve read though all the posts here, I’m humbled by the outpourings of your heart – by the honesty, the pain, the courage, the hope, and the promise of praise. I am challenged and strengthened by your sharing (and moved to tears, as cliche as that may sound). Thank you so much for opening up your lives a little, because I would imagine that I am not the only one who is more determined today to keep walking on and more encouraged that there is hope in the darkness because you have done so.
This is an incredible community. Most churches and communities talk about helping each other, but they stop short of actually doing anything meaningful for the individual members (sure, they may help out at the homeless shelter, but the family who may be losing their home is never known). I’ve seen and been blessed to be part of this community reaching out to others, but having experienced once more personally the true heart of everyone, I am blown away. This is one community where people truly shma (spelling) – hear and obey – hear and do. You rise up. I am humbled by this.
I pray that, God willing, one day we will be able to be on the other side and be able to give back and bless others in this community as we have been blessed. Not out of guilt or obligation, but because joy overflows and our cup does too.
Thank you all again for your generosity towards us. Thank you for your reading suggestions. Thank you for your stories. Thank you for your prayers. I pray that God will return your blessing tenfold, and that He will show Himself in special ways in your lives.
Shalom to you and your families. Once again I’m learning to say with conviction, “But you, Adonai, are a shield about me; you are my glory, and the One who lifts my head. With my voice I call out to Adonai, and he answers me from his holy hill.” (Psalm 3:3-4).
Amanda Youngblood
A Small Psalm
Tears flow
My heart aches and
I cry out for mercy
For relief, for hope.
Show yourself mighty, Lord
Glorify Yourself
Adonai, come in power
For the sake of your name
Rescue me
Tears flow
I see the hurt and
Need of Your children
Who cry out to you
Show yourself mighty, Lord
Glorify Yourself
Adonai, come in power
For the sake of your name
Rescue us
The enemy prowls around us
Yet your wings shelter us
We see such small pieces
Your heart breaks, too
But You know the bigger plan
And if we break, bind us up
If we fall, lift us up
When we are weak, be our strength
When we can’t go on, carry us
Show yourself mighty, Lord
Glorify Yourself
Adonai, come in power
For the sake of your name
This is thrilling! I love it when He allows us to see His glory!
Amanda, many years ago, my extended family was the recipient of someone’s sacrificial service. I told the Father that if I had $$$$s, I would give it to them, because of what they had done for my family. I never truly imagined it would come around full circle, but it did. How very grateful I was to have the opportunity to do good to someone who was good to my family members. I say this in order to encourage you to look forward to the day when you will be in the position of the “giver.” We never know how or when that might happen, and there are so many real needs in addition to $$$s.
A few weeks ago, I was certain that I was prompted to give beyond the usual avenues, but I did not know where or to whom. Then a lady showed up in our community who had genuine needs, whose life had had the RESET button pushed after 30 years. She had NOTHING and needed everything. We talked about ways to help her, and in a few days she was gone. We discovered that she had been received by her family, and they were helping her. It was a happy report that indicated a restoration taking place. Hallelujah! . . . But what of that prompting that I was to give somewhere? Soon, there was your post. Your need is the answer to my need. Thank you for your willingness to be open and vulnerable to this community.
It is a wonderful and humbling thing to experience the blessing of the Creator. He does as He pleases, and we may or may not understand it. And sometimes we see His glory.
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24
Wow, Gayle! That’s an amazing story! Thank you for being willing and faithful to God’s prompting. We can’t express how fully we appreciate it or how honored we are by the love and support everyone here has shown. I, much like you were, am genuinely looking forward to the day when I can be the “giver” and bless others as we are being blessed. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Amanda,
I am writing to say that I to am blown away by a community that does rise up to help another in need!
Life gets in the way for me at times and I do not get to sit and read here everyday. Sometimes the gaps are way to long. Recently I have been able to read daily and was blessed to read of your heartfelt need and also able to read all of the postings above. I am so blessed by this.
Trials come and go and I do believe things often look darkest before the dawn. Just keep walking. I have learned that every morning is indeed new and one never knows just what God is going to bring into that day.
Again, I am so encouraged by the outpouring of encouragement and $$ here. Internet communities apparently do have some rare upsides! 🙂
I am humbled to be a small part of such a one.
My prayers are with you.
Thank you for your encouragement, Dawn. I love a good sunrise! 🙂 But, until then I will keep holding on and keep walking. Today is the day He has made, right? So, I will make it through today. And He will do as He wills for tomorrow.
(This is an amazing community! Thanks for being a part of it!)
Wow! I am truly overwhelmed with tears of joy in reading all of the comments! I am praying for all of you and ask that you pray for my family who is also going through some tough times with our 28 year old daughter. I see we are not alone in these various trials and they are and will bring about what Adonai intends. All praise to HIM even in the midst of it all. Romans 5:1-5
I will pray for you Inetta (and your daughter). Thank you for your prayers, too. And thank you for the reminder to praise Him in the midst of it all. Shalom to you and your family.
Thank you Skip for persevering in leading this community.
And bless you Amanda. Because of similar circumstances I have no $$$. But I have a Father in heaven who hears our cries and you are now in my crying out. I think we are all being squeezed so that we will cry out like the children of Israel in Egypt. You have been very quiet in recent years. Thank you for resurfacing and making known your needs. I have often wondered where you went.
YHVH bless you and keep you forever in His name. Amein
Yes, I’ve been quiet. Some of it is from being overwhelmed by the questions and uncertainty that have arisen as I’ve read the posts here. Some of it is from the squeezing of life and juggling family, work, and everything else that comes up. Thank you for noticing I was MIA! I suppose that one result of reaching that end of myself is that I finally reach out to those around me for encouragement (or sometimes just to tell someone how I feel). A small piece of God, the body of His family. Thank you for your cries on our behalf. I will also pray for you that God’s hand will bless you and provide in extraordinary and unexpected ways.
Oh dear Amanda the beauty of being so needy is that we have nothing left to turn to but Him and that is what causes us to see Him.
He is here with us in us.
Stay close little one and know that He is God and there is none beside Him. You are very important in the whole scheme of things. But you can do little if anything separated from us.
As with all the others here…and for those that haven’t yet added their thoughts…I sit here amazed, humbled, and blessed. What keeps ringing in my ears are the words Skip spoke this morning “We can find you if we know where to look.” Those words went straight from the page directly to the deepest part of my heart, and tears flowed like a faucet being turned on full strength. Then I clicked on the link which took me here, and more tears began to wash my soul.
Each and every person who has taken the time to ‘speak’ their heart – has issues and concerns and problems in their own life, sometimes one more overwhelming then the next. And yes, I could also add my own heartache. But then I realize how small it is in light of the other problems that have come forth.
Community…..community…COMMUNITY??? I hear that bantered around in all the circles – but I see little proof that it actually exists in a ‘real’ form. Being someone that had thought they were truly IN community .. even having helped BUILD that community from the ground up and then 10 years later realizing that it was just another fabrication, well again I say…….community… I find it difficult to ‘engage’ in any so called ‘place’.
But here….in THIS place…even if it on-line (or because it is on-line?) I have seen people reach out their hearts and hands (they have learned the meaning of SHEMA) over and over again! That is the foundation for ‘community’ – to see a need (knowing where to look!) and to reach out to help in that need. Maybe there truly are places that know what community is supposed to look like….and actually shema…such as this…for such a time as this.
We are in our latter years…and have seen and been around a lot of hurt – mostly within those so-called religious communities. It is heart refreshing to be a witness to such outpouring when one is pointed in the right direction of where to look.
Thank you Skip – not only for being here for Amanda…but for all of us – and for us personally….may we all join hands and lift each other up – as we continue to ‘know where to look’.
Pam we are here but we do not look like the Church or the Messianics or the Jews in their present state.
We are dry bones scattered everywhere.
I have come to realize that crying out the Sh’ma every morning is very literally prophesying to the dry bones.
I can’t go about picking them up and gluing them together. But I can prophesy to them. We are tiny groups of believers scattered about. Our bones are very dry. But that won’t be the case forever.
Prophesy daughters of Sarah!
Thank you ‘other’ Pam :-)… yes, that is a good picture … scattered bones – scattered bones everywhere crying out from the sands of time. I, too, cry out the Sh’ma before I fully awake in the morning imagining all of Israel HEARING and OBEYING as they awaken from their graves…..Yes, our bones are dry…but Abba is (I believe) beginning to anoint us all with His oil….may it be so.
from another daughter of Sarah…..
Hallelu YAH!!!
How encouraging to me your words are!