Our dear friend Margaret Kemp has graciously submitted her latest blog to us for the ending of our December blog posts. Typically our holidays are filled with with excitement, anticipation, anxiousness feelings, or disappointment of plans gone sour. When we choose to commit our ways to the Lord, our perspective is transformed and we live out the season in wonder, hope, and thankfulness. Margaret shares her experiences that we hope will encourage your heart if your very own plans have also been shattered. Be blessed as you read. When Your Plans Are Shattered ~ Margaret Kemp"Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalm 37:5 One little phone call rocked my world. Just a few hours before, I’d been delighting in the Christmas-in-July displays at the craft store. As surveyed each shelf stocked with red and green nostalgia, I started counting the days until my family’s Christmas celebration. With one little phone call, all my holiday plans shattered like a shiny green Christmas ornament. You’re not coming for Christmas?! And your brother isn’t coming home either?! I was the kid with the lump of coal in my stocking. The Grinch was stealing my Christmas. Instead of hosting a big family gathering, my husband and I would be alone for the holidays. I mulled over this dilemma. How could I express my disappointment without burning the bridges that would bring my family over the river and through the woods to our house for Christmas? I vented to my husband, my friend, my sister. Then I talked to the Lord. Instead of singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” I hummed a different song in my head, “All to Jesus I Surrender, I Surrender All.” I searched the Bible for verses about surrender, and I was surprised by what I found. I found “submit” and “obey,” but “surrender” was only used when one army was defeated by another. Perhaps “surrender” is not the best word to explain what God wants from us. In my mind, “surrender” implies defeat. But yielding our will to God’s will doesn’t mean we're vanquished. We're not losers waving a white flag and surrendering our plans to God. Wecommit our plans. “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalm 37:5 ESV The word which is translated “commit” is the Hebrew “galal,” which means to roll. I needed to roll up my plans and give them to the Lord. “Galal” is also used in Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” (ESV) I discovered additional advice: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 ESV We have hopes and dreams, but God has the final say. He lovingly orchestrates the events of our lives for our good and our growth. Sometimes our plans are established just as we envisioned them, and sometimes He takes us in a different direction. As I brought my sadness to the Lord, He reminded me of past disappointments… the romance that ended… the job I didn’t get… goodbyes and rejections… opportunities missed and treasures lost… After every loss or unfulfilled desire, God gave me something better… a more loving relationship, a more suitable job, a closer connection to Himself. Bitter disappointments can usher in God’s sweetest blessings. But if we cling too tightly to our wish list, we can’t open our arms to receive God’s gifts. Maybe, like me, you’re dealing with disappointment. Let’s remind each other that we’re not defeated! We’re rolling up our wish list and offering it to the Giver of all good things, allowing Him to make changes and improvements for our benefit. As it turned out, God’s plans were even better than mine. My husband and I were not going to be home alone for the holidays. Unexpected opportunities opened up, and we were the ones who would be traveling over the river and through the woods to spend Christmas with those we love. If you didn’t get exactly what you were hoping for this year, keep your eyes open for a brighter, shinier package with your name on it. ~Margaret Kemp Once again, we want to wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Very Happy beginning to 2020! Just incase you missed our Christmas video last week, it has been posted again here for you to view. Christmas Video: https://youtu.be/SCInT0uMyBM Also, remember that Year End Giving to Restore Ministries is a tax deductible contribution and helps to further the visions and goals of this ministry. We appreciate your partnership through prayer and financial contributions to Restore. Our hearts are filled with awe and gratitude of the wondrous works that God has planned for us before the foundation of the world! Thank you! PS. Don't forget about our upcoming Winter Gathering of Women February 7 & 8, 2020 (free)! Registration is required and contributions / sponsorships are appreciated to help cover the cost of the weekend expenses. Invite your girlfriends! Merry Christmas! Kathy Drake & Sherry Barron
0 Comments
We wanted to take a brief moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This short YouTube video contains some reflections of 2019 and a sneak peek of things to come in 2020! Please be sure to register for Restore's Winter Gathering February 7, 8. It is a free event but we ask that you register so that we can be fully prepared for our numbers (desserts, breakfast, and materials). We will be meeting at Community Bible Church located in Baton Rouge, LA on Friday evening (7th) and then again on Saturday (8th) morning until noon. We hope that you will make plans to join us! CLICK HERE for more information.
It is our prayer that this holiday season fills your heart and focus on the tremendous gift of God's love...His son, Jesus! Please Consider Restore Ministries for your End of Year Giving. |
It was five years ago at this very time that I wrote a blog called O Come, O Come... I actually stumbled upon it a few weeks ago, and suggested to Kathy that I should write the blog this week and revisit what I wrote in 2014. The Lord had awakened me with 3 words and a scripture verse on that 2014 night, and it seems that those words are still prevalent for me today! This week in particular, another word was added to my list of thought provoking and powerful words, trust! It's so sweet how the Lord offers little whispers in my ear to help me acknowledge His presence is always with me and to stop worrying. An email subscription was delivered in my inbox with a new painting from David Arms, an artist in Leipers Fork, TN a little village just outside of Franklin. The title of the painting...Trust. I really didn't think too much about it until a Cardinal flew up and perched himself right in my view on the limb of a low Japanese Magnolia branch. I was sitting on my sacred porch brining my cares to the Lord. |
1 O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel. 2 O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain 3 O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain 4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain | 5 O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain 6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light. Refrain 7 O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain Psalter Hymnal (Gray) |
Expecting, Anticipating, and Preparing with a shout to the Lord during this season of Advent, Sherry Works Cited: http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom http://www.twoagespilgrims.com/doctrine/o-come-o-come-emmanuel/ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/introduction-to- advent/#ixzz3KbJ7xpRWhttp://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html "Copyright © 2013 CRI/Voice, Institute" |
If you are reading this blog through social media we would suggest that you sign up to receive the blog each week in your email inbox. It will come directly to you to read at your leisure. Enter your email in the subscriber box on the right at the top of this blog page on the website, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Your email address is safe with us! Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share our blogs on your social media or email them to a friend. |
July 2021
March 2021
December 2020
November 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013