Have you ever asked God for answers but never stopped long enough to hear what He's trying to tell you? Unfortunately, that's been me lately. The past couple of months, I've felt led to change careers and have felt my passion for wanting to make a difference just ready to burst forth! I have repeatedly asked for guidance and answers. I am such an impatient person and would keep asking "Why? What? What do I do? Tell me what to do! Show me where to go. Open my eyes to answers. Please, God! Just show me!" Raise your hand if you've been there. My impatience has been getting the best of me.

I was feeling so desperate for answers, I even wondered if God was sending me a message through a fortune cookie one day....
"Your present plans are going to succeed within the year."


Could it be? Is this my message from God I've been waiting for? Is this Him sending me comfort and reassurance to continue with what I'm doing? Do I think God would use a fortune cookie to reach out to me? I mean food will get my attention! *smile* The answer is that I don't know. But I do know that God can do anything, use anything, or anybody who is willing.
"With God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Even if it's not a message from Him, I was reminded that He's got this. He is in control. He knows my heart's desire and guess what... He cares about them too. Just like He cares for yours. He knows our desires before we even ask. He promises to supply our every need.
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" Matthew 6:26

I know that sometimes I need little reminders. "Seek God first and everything else can wait."...I tell myself that a lot. We get so caught up in the "now" that we sometimes let our own desires hinder God's plan for our lives. I've been reminded lately that this life is not mine. My life is for Him, for His purpose and glory.
"But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

So lately, while I've been repeatedly asking for answers, I heard it. God clearly said this to me... "Stop! Stop it! Be still and listen." and this verse:
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31




"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

My blog: Inspired Mess
Twitter: @inspiredmess


Jamie Habermaas is married and together they have 3 rowdy boys. She spends her days in a law office dreaming up big ideas and her evenings checking homework, giving lots of hugs and finding the adventure in the every day. Diagnosed with M.S. in January, 2009, she spends much time raising awareness for the disease and with M.A.D. Moms, Moms who are making a difference in their communities.

If you’ve been a Christian for very long, chances are good that you’re familiar with the parable of the prodigal son (if not, you can find it in Luke 15:11-32). The basic story, for those who don’t know it, is that a son goes to his father, asks for his inheritance, goes and blows it, and then comes home to his father, hoping to be a slave, but being welcomed back as a son.

It’s a beautiful story of redemption and a spectacular picture of the love of God. There’s nothing that we can do that is too heinous for us to return to God. He has a limitless amount of love for us.

But there’s another brother in the story. The older brother. The good brother. The brother who didn’t leave, didn’t cavort, didn’t reject.

We don’t think much about him. He seems kind of whiney. When his younger brother comes home and their father welcomes him with a great feast, the older brother stays outside and pouts. He folds his arms and refuses to be a part of the celebration. And when his father comes out to talk to him, he yells, saying that he’s never done anything wrong, he’s worked hard and he’s never even been allowed to have a party with his friends.

Yeah, that guy sounds like me. I don’t have a testimony that stops people in their tracks and makes them think, “Wow, God has really had to do a number on HER!” I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember. I sang in the church choir growing up, I was the youth representative for our region in our denomination, I did all of the “good kid” stuff. I was by no means perfect, but even in my most rebellious times, I wasn’t THAT bad. And I never turned my back on God.

One would think that’s a good thing. And really, it is. I’m really lucky to be able to say that I’ve been pretty tight with Jesus my whole life.

But sometimes it feels like God loves the people who have the “good” testimonies a little bit more. The story of a person who was born in the church, grew up in the church and is still in the church is just not one that has a whole lot of pizzazz. You don’t generally get invited to share your story to motivate people. That book isn’t flying off the shelf. It can be easy to feel neglected for doing good when there seems to be a more demonstrable outpouring of love for the prodigal child.

But I love what the father says to the older son. “You are always with me and everything I have is yours.”
It’s easy to think of that strictly in terms of the stuff, but I like to think that the father (and our Father) is referring also to that extravagant love. That love that gushes, that embraces, that celebrates. We have access to that.

All we have to do is show up.

Do you identify more with the prodigal son or the older brother? Do you ever question if God loves you as much as someone else?

Alise
My personal blog: BigMama247
Big Mama on Facebook
Find me on Twitter: @BigMama247



You can find Alise Wright at BigMama247.com, where she writes about faith, family, friendship and killer robots. She lives in WV with her husband and four children.

Through all the blog surfing I’ve done over the last few years, I’ve learned that people post about their passions. From adoption to zip lining, there’s a blog for everyone!
The title of my blog, Prayer Gifts, gives a name to my passion: prayer that reaches the heart of God but also touches the hands and heart of the recipient. Tangible prayer.

When an old friend lost her mother to cancer, I could think of no better gift to give her than prayer. She told me she felt like the prayer came from her mother’s heart.


I was floored!

A few months later, I wrote a prayer letter for my co-worker who has religion but no relationship with Jesus. Although I could feel the Lord telling me to write it, I was worried about how she'd respond. I didn't want her to think I was some crazy bible thumper who would preach to her every day at school. Guess what? She loved her prayer letter just as much as my church friend did! She now expects one every year on her birthday.
I was floored again!

Prayer letters are so simple, but they pack a powerful punch! Over the years, God has given me some creative ideas for prayer letters, and I’ve started sharing them each Monday on my blog.

Prayer gifts are not just prayer letters.
About three years ago, that same co-worker lost her husband to a heart attack right as we were getting out of school for the summer. My family had a three-week vacation planned when school let out, but I hated to leave my friend who was still reeling from the shocking loss. I cried out to God for some way to minister to her across the miles, and prayer texts were born.

Each morning of that summer, I sent her a prayer based on a promise from God's word-prayers about the peace of God, the provision of God, and the power of God to heal her wounded heart. It was my small way to remind her that God would help her through her grief if she'd let Him.

After sending the prayer texts all summer, I returned to school only to discover that she had shared them with others. Other co-workers came up to me and said, "I want to get the prayers, too!" Soon, family members were added to the list. Then church friends and blog friends. Today, I have over 100 people on my prayer text list. My Blackberry is a ministry tool.
I can't count the number of times someone has texted me back and said, "How did you know? That prayer was just what I needed this morning." Well, I didn't know. But God did. Some mornings, I feel His hand cover mine as He uses my fingers to send His direct message in 140 characters or less. I can think of no greater privilege than to be used by God to encourage others. I love it!

My dream is to see Christian women of all ages and backgrounds giving prayer gifts! If we all took the time to be a balm of encouragement to the people around us, just think how beautiful this world would be! Please join me for Prayer Gift Mondays and help me start a blessing revolution!

Praying for you to catch a passion for prayer gifts,

Lee

My personal blog: Prayer Gifts
Find me on Twitter: @leebirdmerrill

During TV time at my house on any given day my children can be heard yelling, “mom, I want”. Whether it is a snack, or the hottest new toy on TV they are constantly “wanting” something. This may just sound like normal childlike behavior , but the truth is we as adults tend to “want, want, want” as well.

How many of us want our lives away. From wanting a new house, to wanting a new car, or maybe your “wants” aren't even that big. If you're like me I could pick up the mail order magazines that come in my mailbox weekly and find a dozen or more things that I could “want”.

What we must remember is there is a difference between wants and needs. If it is truly a need, that is one thing, but our wants are more closely associated with our human nature, our sin nature. Our needs on the other hand we should not worry about, however because our Lord will be sure that our needs are met.

Do not misunderstand me I believe we must do our part. We must be willing to work and do for ourselves. More than anything however, we must learn to be content with what we have. We live in a land of plenty and very few of us live in “want”. We truly have more than we need.

Upon studying Philippians over the weekend I learned a great deal from the Apostle Paul who tells us how he learned to be content with what he had.

Philippians 4: 11-13 reveals this to us, “ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

We must learn to rely on our Lord rather than the many things that are found in this world. After all, those things will pass away but our Lord will never leave us or forsake us.



Alyssa Avant
website: www.AlyssaAvant.com
Twitter: @alyssaavant

Do you long to see evidence of God's hand in your life? Do you want to have reassurance that He is in control? Seeing His hand may just be a story away.



God's Hand at Birth

According to the doctor that delivered me, it was a miracle that I was born without complications. The doctor discovered during my mother's c-section that her uterus was paper thin and would have likely ruptured if she had carried me to full term. God's hand was with me in my mother's womb.

God's Hand as a Child

In fourth grade, my parents told me that I would be homeschooling because they did not have the money for me to return to my Christian school. Each week I would spend at least one day with my father. I went to work with him and sat in the empty cubicle beside his, and then in the late afternoon we would go to the homeschool bowling or skating activity. The next year my father died of a heart attack at the age of forty-one. God knew my time with my father was short and gave me those extra moments with my father the year I homeschooled. God's hand was with me as a child.

God's Hand as a Teenager

Crossing the border into Mexico after my ninth grade year, erased my ignorance of the needs of people in other countries. As I spent time teaching vacation Bible school and worshiping with the families in the evenings, God used that trip to ignite a passion in me for different cultures. I would eventually return to Mexico for a second trip, travel to China to teach English for a summer, spend a year teaching on the island of Saipan, and five years teaching on the island of Guam. God's hand was with me as a teenager, and God's Hand continues to direct me as an adult.

God's Hand as a Mother

Inspired by my grandmother's short stories of childhood, I recently started recording my youth on my blog Mommy's Piggy Tales and inviting other women to join me. I did not know what I was getting into!

These women, many of them Christians, are sharing story after story of God's faithfulness throughout their lives. I didn't expect to be knocked over by GOD'S Sovereignty in their stories, I didn't expect to cry, and I didn't expect to bring families closer together, but guess what? It's happening.

We started the project with our birth stories, and now 13 weeks later we are writing about our Senior year of high school. Many of our children are too young to fully appreciate these stories we are sharing now, but one day I am confident these stories will be an awesome source of enjoyment, and encouragement for our children.

Seeing God's hand in your life from birth to now is a powerful thing, and sharing that testimony with others brings glory to God. Some of my stories have been quite lighthearted such as my first boyfriend in seventh grade or the day in second grade when I vowed I would never play with my neighbor girls again, but writing each one of them has been a valuable journey and one I'd like to invite you to join. The second session to record your youth is free and starts October 7, 2010.



Janna Antenorcruz is the founding editor of Mommy's Piggy Tales: Record Your Youth. Inspired by her grandmother's stories of growing up, she created a blog where mothers can have friendly accountability and encouragement to record the memories of their youth in 14 posts. Participation is free and Session 2 will begin October 7, 2010. Need more convincing to get involved? Read the Mommy's Piggy Tales testimonials page.

photo by: Christine


Janna A.


MommysPiggyTALES.com
Record Your Youth in 15 posts.
Session 2 begins October 7, 2010.


Twitter: @AdventureMomJ

I also blog at: TheAdventureofMotherhood.com