ALONENESS

I am traveling as I write this.  Please forgive the different format.



From the book Gaining Through Losing by Evelyn.....Page 60

Aloneness--the result of one of the greatest losses we can experience--that sometimes sudden and ever-deepening realization that we have been deprived of human companionship.  The loss may come through death, separation, divorce, rebellion, or distance.

From the book Gaining Through Losing by Evelyn.....Page 61

There is the hope of actually gaining through the losing of human companionship.

God Comes in Proportion to Our Needs
Theologians tell us that God is omnipresent, that is, He has the ability to be everywhere at once. But does this mean He is in all places at all times in the same proportion?  It does not appear so.

An amazing characteristic of God's nature that I have observed is:  He always comes in proportion to our needs.  The deeper the sorrow, the more comfort He gives; the larger the voice, the more God fills it; the greater the need, the more we have of Him.  "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.  (Ps. 34:18)

As I have shared before, I have been going through a very difficult time in my life.  When I read about 'gaining through losing' all I can do is trust God because when I read the words, they are just words that I want to believe.  The hurt is so real right now, all I can do is remember how God has been with me through the past difficult times in my life.  I know he is there and that he loves me more than I can imagine.  This gives me hope and helps me to keep pressing on.

This past week I was "thinking too much" about my situation instead of doing what helps me the most.  I was not getting into the Bible and REALLY praying about my situation.  When I do this, it transforms me, it gives me hope.

I have also experienced several things that were totally out of my control.  I knew it was God encouraging me.  He sent several people into my life who had lived through similar circumstances.  They told me, "Don't give up!"  Satan will try and rob you of your joy, but do not let him." (Honestly, he had been doing this.)

What has been happening in my life?

When I have my eyes on Jesus, I believe he will turn losses into gains. 
When I have my eyes on Jesus, joy surrounds me in the midst of my storm.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Dear God,
Thank you for all you have showed me this week.  Please help me to find the time I need DAILY, to spend with you.  Please encourage me as I wait upon you.
Jesus name, Amen.
 

What You Can Bear—Your Potential

Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing. Evelyn: page 51
 
The Expert Pruner Recently my friend Jane brought me a small purple passion plant which she had started from her own. While I was anxiously waiting for it to grow in its new environment, it suddenly shot straight up, resembling a purple and green bean pole. Common sense told me to pinch off the top, but I could not master the courage. For several weeks I approached it, fingers all poised, only to lose my nerve and retreat. I could not bear to hurt my little plant. Finally I steeled myself, gritted my teeth, and pinched. To my surprise, in just one week many new shoots appeared on the stalk, filling out the ugly leafless spots.

This plant would not do one thing until it was cut down, but once it was, it began to blossom. The same is true in my life. The cutting down process must occur before I will blossom, but it is not easy. Nobody likes the pruning process.

Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing. Evelyn: page 52
 
Since pruning means “purging by removal,” “cleansing by separation from,” and “cutting away living part,” we must ask, does God just allow or does he actually do something that hurts his own?

Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing. Evelyn: page 55
Jesus explained that God’s reason for pruning is never to hurt us but to produce more fruit. That glorious season we love so much. Fruit-bearing! Accomplished by God’s all-loving, all-wise process.

Gaining through losing…..Gaining through losing…. This is not an easy concept to grasp. In fact, when I think about it, I realize what it all means.  I can talk about it to others, but it can be hard to believe it way down deep within my soul. The only thing that can keep me going in the midst of my storm is remembering who God is and that he loves me. He can do anything. Yes, in the blink of an eye, the storms can disappear and the sun will shine through, but the waiting can be hard

The only way I can ever survive the storms of life is by getting alone with God and opening up the pages of my Bible. He always speaks truth and encouragement to keep me going. I cannot imagine going through the storms of life without God.

Dear God,
Please go before me and give me strength and peace in the storm that I am facing today. You know all about it. Thank you that I am not alone. Show me how I can truly Gain something valuable through my losing times. Please guide me to the end of this storm in your perfect timing. In Jesus Name

What You Can Bear--Your Capacity

I have lived the “Cinderella Story” life for many years. Each day, I would wake up to my blessings and praise God. My life was wonderful. The past two years have been extremely hard years of learning. I believe God has brought this book into my life at a time when I needed to understand the principles about Gaining Through Losing. Page 33 As we, like Job, experience testing and trials of varying degrees from time to time, we too feel we cannot bear another minute of the suffering. We ask ourselves what possible gain could come out of these horrible losses. Seeing the immediate or eventual gain is not only difficult but often impossible. However, as with Job, there are astounding gains for the believer because of his trials and testings. Honestly, I have not had the best attitude in my Losing time. It has been so hard, but God brings people into our lives to help us along the way. God brought the words of my son to me. When I read them, I immediately asked God’s forgiveness. I was so used to the good life, but when the hard times came I was not praising God in the storms, like I had encouraged many people to do. His words are still working deep within my soul. Quote from my son: You only really can impact people when you show strength and grace through adversity... don’t know if that makes any sense but the normal response would be to be sad and depressed...people expect it...if you can be abnormal...I.e. positive through it all...that's when people can notice and say he or she has something I don't and something I'd like to have... ..people don't relate well to a cushy life...but they relate to problems...and when you can shine above them that's where people are inspired....You have an opportunity to put your faith to the test and people are watching whether you realize it or not...these are the times where a difference is made. Page 45 It has been many, many years since I have asked God “why” in the trials. With a shocking report from a doctor, a calamity in a child’s life, or some shattering news in the family, I find myself searching for that “more of my God – my Who.. I, with Job have heard much of God, but it has always been in those difficult times of my life that I have seen Him –ready and eager to reveal more of Himself to me. What a fabulous gain through my losses! Have your “whys” Turned to “Who” I am so sorry that this blog has poor formating. This is all my computer would let me do. My own computer is out of service. Please forgive the format of this post.

Chapter Two: Paul's Gaining Through Losing

Page 25

If you are losing what you think is best for you by getting an apparent “no” answer from the Lord, take heart.  It was because Paul’s thorn in the flesh remained that the Lord could show him His mysterious dealings with His own—how He equips us through our seeming-losses.   How much more powerful, effective, and fruitful Paul was because of that “no” answer!  Enough grace and enough power!

Wow, I have been down this road more times than I want to admit. In fact, I am in the middle of yet another, “letting go” in my life.  God has been saying “no” for awhile, but at first I did not hear his voice because I was so wrapped up in my plans.  I did not want to let go.  I am a strong-willed woman and when I have a plan in my mind, it is hard to hear God’s “no” to what I consider his plan. 

Over the past five years, it seems like over and over, I have had to give up my plans because nothing was happening with my plans.  God was saying “no”, but I did not want to hear it.

So I have a choice, I can trust that God knows what is best for me, and follow him immediately or flounder around striving after my plans.  With God, I can strive at after something I want, but eventually I will have to submit to what God is speaking to me.  There is no way I will convince God to do it my way.

What is the good part in giving up my plans and going with Gods?  God’s plans are always the place where we will experience the greatest joy.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Dear God

Please go before me and show me the steps in following you.  As I take them, I might experience pain, but help me up and go with your plans for my life 

Gaining Through Losing

Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing  Evelyn:  page 10

What is Life?  But what is life—that elusive something we humans are chasing, seeking, and so frantically pursuing?  Is it utopia, a never-never land of euphoric happiness? Is it what we Christians are seeking to have “more abundantly”?  Intangible, indescribable yet we believe we will recognize it when we find it.

We seek life in health spas for the body beautiful, in doctor’s offices for vigorous health, in a regimented lifestyle for longevity.  We look for it in ever-changing sports fads, in shorter work weeks, in hobbies to take the boredom out of our leisure time.  We hoard money in banks to ensure a life of comfort.  We invest in stocks and insurance for security at retirement, or in property to achieve equity. We search for life through education, equal rights, mind-expanding  programs, and through the passive search for tranquility.   We strive for it by moving up to the right neighborhood, being involved socially, getting to the top professionally, by being needed.  We know we will reach when we are free from an addiction or a habit or a confinement.  And we will clinch it all by marrying the love of our life and moving into our dream house.  Then there will be life—lived “happily ever after’!

But somehow, no matter how many of these we find, there is always the haunting feeling that there must be more to life than this.       

Well then, perhaps life after all is just the seeking of it—that life is found in the process of seeking it.  Is it true that the pursuit of it, to which we are all constitutionally entitled, brings happiness?  Or can we really find it?

Then, if we can find life, will we really find it through Jesus’ mind-jarring paradox of “gaining it through losing it”? I decided to find out.

A word of caution here:  This principle has nothing to do with a martyr complex or suicidal tendencies.  Jesus never leads us to commit suicide.  Nor does this principle have to do with the masochistic tendency to seek gratification from pain, deprivation, or self-denial.  It does not apply to those who enjoy losing, but to those plain, ordinary, everyday followers of Christ who are willing to lose their lives—for His sake.

Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing        Evelyn:  page 12

Then gradually, the answer seemed to come from God:  “Empty yourself of all of you, Evelyn.”

Am I ready to empty myself of all of me?

I remember when I read this book many years ago,  I honestly did not understand how I could gain anything by losing.  The more I got into the book, the more I understood what it means “gaining through losing.”  I don’t think anyone likes to lose, but when we understand how the God who created everything can show us how losing in our lives can turn out as a gain, or something that is actually good for us is totally amazing.

We are going on an incredible Journey with Evelyn as we open the pages of this book.  We are living in days when many of us seem to be losing many things, like jobs, family, health, homes, etc.  The good part is that whatever we are facing today, we are not alone.  The God, who created me, has a plan for my life, and everything that I go through is part of the plan for my life.

I hope you will join me every Tuesday morning as we Journey together.  Invite your friends along.  God’s blessings to you today!

Dear God,

Please go before me as I begin this book, Gaining Through Losing.  Love me, teach me, and encourage me along this Journey.  In Jesus name,  Amen.

Please forgive me, but I thought I had posted my last chapter post, but I had not.  I have been gone for two weeks for speaking engagements, so I have been out of touch computer range.  I am back now, and I will finish up our last book, What Happens When We Pray For Our Families.

The Last Chapter:  The Supernatural reason for prayer

 Quote from the book What Happens When We Pray For Our Families. Evelyn, page 189

THE ONLY REASON families need prayer is because there is a supernatural battle raging on earth, and human resources, wisdom, and power are not sufficient to win in this battle

PRAYER IS OUR SUPERNATURAL WEAPON

Since the source of all that plagues our families is supernatural, we need supernatural weapons to combat it.  This is so clearly emphasized in                            

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

The only One who can bring victory over all this evil that plagues our families is God.

Quote from the book What Happens When We Pray For Our Families. Evelyn, page 201-202

A CONCLUDING WORD—PONDERING OR PRAYER

Much of what we think is prayer is actually only pondering.  Even when we are on our knees in our prayer closets, it is easy just to roll our own thoughts and our own answers around in our minds, not really including God at all.  This is not prayer, it is only pondering.

My dictionary defines “ponder” like this.  “To consider something deeply and thoroughly; to meditate over or upon, to weigh carefully in the mind, to consider thoughtfully; to reflect, cogitate deliberate, ruminate.  This is a healthy process as it helps us sort out whys, unravel perplexing puzzles, come to conclusions, and even put to rest hurtful events.  But people frequently think they have prayed when they have spent time pondering.  Pondering is not prayer.  Only when we involve God in this process does it turn into prayer.

Only when we include God in our ponderings, we are praying.

Examine carefully what you have been calling your “prayertime.”  How much of it is really praying?  Have you learned to address God deliberately—and then listen to His responses?  Or are you basically just pondering.  Make sure!

 James 4:8

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. 

Wow, what a thought provoking chapter!  Am I pondering or praying?  I want to take some time to really think about this question.

Am I just going through the motions with my prayer life?  How can I spark freshness into my prayers?

What Happens When We Pray For Our Families has been an amazing journey of prayer.  God has given me this wonderful power source called prayer, but do I take it seriously?  Do I have a heart for prayer or am I just pondering?

I have been reminded through the pages of this book that prayer needs to be my lifeline.  I need to stop pondering and begin speaking and listening to God in a very real way.

Praying for my family must be a priority in my life, but how do I slow my life down and make room for prayer?

It is my choice.  What is most important to me? 

Prayer is the most important thing that I can do for my family, so my life should allow plenty of time for it.

 

Note:

For the past several years I have become so busy.  My time with God has not been the same.  I have made a choice this week.  I am letting go of everything, except this blog and my writing.  It is time to rest and refresh.  Please pray for me as I let go and let God do it.  

 

As I close the pages of this book, I want to say, “Thank you Evelyn!”  Once again, you have inspired me to take prayer seriously. 

 

I have changed the book that we will be reading.  It will be; Gaining Through Losing.  I can't wait to get back into this book.  I remember it was very meaningful the last time I read it.

 

Blessings to you day.

Robin

 

 

Special Prayers for Special Times

Quote from the book What Happens When We Pray For Our Families. Evelyn, page 171

Prayer for special people on their special days brings God’s input into their lives.  Our “best wishes” actually turn into divine influence, divine favor, and divine blessings—when we pray.

As I read this chapter, I was challenged to pray about the Special Times for my family.  Special Times like:  Birthday Prayers, Birthday Celebrations, Jesus’ Birthday, First Grandmothering Christmas (the first Christmas when you become a Grandmother), Thanksgiving Day Prayers, and Wedding Praying. 

It was so touching to hear the stories of several of Evelyn’s children as they wrote about their Special Times.

For the past ten years I have started the New Year praying for God to lead me to a Bible verse for myself and each family member.  The verse becomes their key verse for the year.  I pray this verse for them and then watch God use the verse in their lives.

There is power in prayer, but I need to use it daily.  There are so many reasons why I should pray, but the very last chapter in this book talks about the Supernatural Reason for Prayer.

Quote from the book What Happens When We Pray For Our Families. Evelyn, page 189

THE ONLY REASON families need prayer is because there is a supernatural battle raging on earth, and human resources, wisdom, and power are not sufficient to win in this battle.

Next week we will go through the last chapter in this wonderful book.  Be sure to join me.

Dear God,

Please help me to find the time this week to pray about the Special Times in my children’s lives.  I know there is power in prayer and I want to try and be more specific in my prayers for them.  Thank you for what you are going to do.   In Jesus Name, Amen.

(I have my oldest son David and his wife Stacy and our twin Grand-Daughters staying with us right now, so I will write more about this next week. 

Blessings to your Day!