by Dona Hake

 

Corrie ten Boom profoundly put it this way…

 

 

Many times  we are faced with things that God has asked us to do and  we can discourage ourselves because we tend to try to accomplish them our own ability.  We feel deep down we are to do something yet there may be times in which we lack the confidence we need because we are so focused on our inability or where we are lacking.

 

Philippians 4:13 (AMP)“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].”

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

 

Our yesterdays may have some wonderful and sweet memories. I know I have precious memories in my life yet there are some yesterdays that I would not want to walk through again. When certain yesterdays are with painful moments , hurt, and mistakes… only the Lord can heal our hearts and minds.

 

Many times our issue lies within our own hearts. We cannot go forward until we ask God to forgive others of hurts done to us. Yet, there are those times that you may have messed up and you have ask God to forgive you but you seem unable to forgive yourself. This is what Paul said about his weakness.

 

by Dona Hake

 

 

 I was on my way to my son’s home and my granddaughters were in the back seat singing along to a fun music CD I have. Traffic was heavier than usual but it seemed to be moving along relatively well. With absolutely no warning an oncoming vehicle decided to do a u-turn in the steady stream of traffic that I was in, and he cut right in front of me. He ended up not being able to manage the turn and he hit the curb. He was literally sideways in the traffic blocking both lanes. I was heading straight for him and I slammed on my break to avoid broadsiding him. There was no warning to the car behind me and this gentleman almost crashed into me because of the abrupt stop that I had to make. All I can remember seeing as I looked in my rear view mirror was a car swerving left to right and I could hear his brakes squealing loudly. It was like everything went into slow motion, and I have got to be honest, I thought most certain there was going to be impact with our vehicles…but it was not. My oldest granddaughter inquired immediately ask what was going on especially when she heard me lay on the horn. I said, “Marissa, the Lord just protected us from a very bad accident.”

 

This incident served to remind me to be ever so mindful of trusting the Lord for His protection no matter what or where you are going. Things can simply happen so fast that you have not even a second to do anything. As we drove away from what could have been a bad accident I exclaimed, “Oh thank you Jesus for protecting us!”

 

Even though we were safe, I was extremely shaken up. Can I be honest with you? When the reality of the thing that almost happened hit me my thoughts went to a bad place. As I continued to drive I began to dwell on “what if this would of happened?” thoughts. Those thoughts went on because I allowed them to and there was even a point I felt paranoid while driving home. I realized I had to get a grip on my mind and discipline my thoughts about the whole thing. From that moment on I purposed to be thankful for the protection as we were under the shadow of His wings.

 

Sometimes we just have to command our thoughts and fears to be still and look to the Lord for His peace, and remind ourselves of His angels that surrounds us. Oh how I am so grateful for His lovingkindness and His desire to intervene in my life in moments like this. God is good!!! Today I am praising Him for His loving and caring hand in my granddaughters and my life that day. 

 

~~~~~♥~~~~~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thinking about the loving hand of my Heavenly Father, and how He is the best planner of all! He knew me before I was even formed in the womb of my mother. He knows all the days of my life and He has a specific plan for me. He has a specific and special plan for you as well. The plan He has for us is a bigger picture than we can ever dream up. As we put our life into His hands, He will continue to mold and make us according to His purposes.

God knew from the day I was born when I would start asking Him questions. He saw my life from start to finish and I rejoice in my heart that He knows all the days that are before me. God will always see the bigger picture! I am comforted to know that He will always be with me to grant me grace to live each day. He will hear my prayers and He promises to to help me. He is the faithful one that will complete the work He started in me, and all that concerneth me, He will perfect!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Dona Hake

I heard a precious woman share how she was told while she was pregnant that the baby had absolutely no chance of living. The doctor emphasized that there was a 100% chance that the baby would never be born. The devastation that this couple experienced must have been unreal. They began to share how their faith caused them to rise to a place of hope. Against hope they believed in hope! They pressed in and moved forward in the whole bleak situation and were able to get a doctor that would work with them and sure enough the baby was born. The doctor dared to do a particular procedure that sustained the baby and she was born. This little one has some obstacles to face but I am sure this couple’s faith will continue in this little one’s journey of being an overcomer.

I think the thing that really touched my heart is how awesome it was that God used someone like this doctor to step into their life at time when there looked like no hope was in the future for them. Many times it may look like no one believes that things will turn around but it only takes one to step up and take hold of your hope and stand with you. I have been there. I remember being told that I more than likely would lose my first son. I had lost so much blood and even though they saw the fetus with heartbeat, they refused to give me an ultrasound picture. They felt very sure that in the next week my baby would be miscarried. I thank God for those that stepped in and persevered in prayer with me. I thank God to this day for my son that is now thirty one years of age. Because of the faith and hope of many, I was able to take hold of hope that appeared very dim at one point.

Today, I encourage you to never underestimate the power of your prayers and words of encouragement in the life of someone that may be losing hope. God is faithful to take His words and cause faith and hope to spark where one is growing weak.

 

by Dona Hake

 

Eleven little preschoolers and they all seemed to arrive at church with an extra dose of energy and I am planning to bring them a teaching about being still before God.  It was almost funny to me standing in front of them because I love how God is faithful to help me grab and keep their attention frozen on me for a few minutes.  In that few minutes it is my heart to nail them with a truth that will help guide their little heart.

 

 

“Okay, everyone, look at me, look me straight in the eyes…at the count of three I want all of you to sing as loud as you can.  You sing what ever you want to sing.  If you don’t know a song then you just sing la la la!!!”   Their eyes were fixed on me as I did the count down and boy were they loud!  “Okay, now stop, everyone stop and be as quiet as you can!”   They immediately obeyed and were still.   It amazed me how this little moment of fun pulled them into total receptivity to receive a truth about being still that they can hear God and their hearts.

 

 

I proceeded to share with them that it would have been impossible for them to hear me say anything when they were singing loudly but when they got quiet they could hear me plain and clear.  I told them many times our heart is trying to speak and tell us the right thing to do, but our minds are so loud we cannot hear.   “Our minds are so busy thinking about what we are going to play, what we are going to say, where we are going to go.”  They totally connected and understood where I was going.

 

 

The visual I gave them was a stoplight.  I focused much on the red light.   As each child sat and listened I asked them,  “How many times have you felt your heart tell you to stop??  You know, times you are going to say or do something bad and your heart is trying to stop you.”     I have to say at that split second their little eyes were preciously fixed upon me.  They understood all too well that they all had experienced their hearts acting as “stop signs, and trying to keep them out of trouble.

 

 

Can I tell you how many times I have shared with the little children in my church and God is ministering to my heart as well in great doses?  I walked away from my own teaching being reminded that as I am faithful to study God’s Word , and  keep my heart quiet that I will sense the “stop signs” that the Lord is warning me with.  He will also be able to prompt me to go forward with His divine “green lights” as well.  Today, I am reminded to keep my heart toward Him and remain with a heart of child likeness.   Let us be still and know that He is God in every area of our life.

 

 

 

“The Lord will provide!”  Let this fact never become just a cliche to us that we speak.  These words are loaded with the truth that we serve a God that is able to meet ANY need.   There is not a thing in our life that we may be lacking that is too hard for Him to take care of.