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On By LindaIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Welcome to Amazing God Stories!  Christian allegories, parables, analogies, fiction short stories as well as creative nonfiction stories that show the variety of amazing ways God has been working in my life. And if He has done all this for me, I can only imagine what He’s been doing for you!

My  goals are simple:

#4.  To brighten your day with a little entertainment, for you to leave feeling a bit better than when you arrived.

#3. To teach, warn, and clarify Biblical issues we face as Christians so we can be all that God calls us to be. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

#2.  To inspire you to keep on keeping on in your own walk with God.  God is working in your life as much as He’s working in mine. Maybe something I’ve learned or experienced will help you get through a rough patch or to grow in your own desire to know God.

And the #1 reason: To glorify God – to acknowledge and thank Him for all the ways He has been faithful to me! From the day I met Him, He has been by my side. He’s been my Friend, Coach, Counselor, Father, Teacher, Comforter, Defender,  Provider, and a million other things.

This blog is my way to shout to the world that GOD IS AMAZING!

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If my stories do what I hope they will do – like, comment, follow, and/or share them!

It would mean a lot to me to to know that they are being read and to hear what you think!

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 19   Removal of More Dirt

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

If my back yard could talk, this might be what it would say as I dig away in it again.

Wait! Why are you removing more of my dirt?  Wasn’t that big hole enough? Besides, it doesn’t feel good for you to dig and scrape away at me like you are doing. What was hidden under my top layer is now exposed and it makes me feel open and raw. Maybe you have a good reason to remove the dry, bare clay, although I haven’t given up trying to grow something in those areas. But why take away the rich, dark soil in other areas? That soil is so promising. It’s just a matter of time for those tiny green grass blades to grow and become a lush covering. And what about the grass you are removing with the dirt? You call them weeds, but they are just as green as the grass you value. I just don’t understand why you are doing this. Sure, I said the same thing last month when you dug that big hole. But I can now see how it serves a good purpose, providing a home for fish, frogs, and tadpoles. But I see no purpose in what you are doing here. It makes no sense to remove the dirt you are but leaving the rest. And in those narrow bands! Just look at how much I’m losing. It makes me sad to see tubs full of my dirt that you are taking away.

My answer would be:

I have a plan. I’m not taking away the dirt to make your life miserable. I’m not taking away your dirt randomly and thoughtlessly. I’m taking it away to make room for something new, something beautiful. Be patient. This takes time. Don’t focus on the tubs of dirt you are losing. Focus on all that you still have. And trust me. I know things that you do not. I will finish what I started and complete my purpose for this part of your yard. Actually it’s my yard, and you will not miss the removed dirt once you have the new things I’m putting in that space. You will understand one day and you will rejoice with me.

***

Have you ever wondered why things you loved, things that were a comfortable part of your life, were taken away? Why God would take them from you but not from others?

I’m not talking about things like losing a loved one through an accident or illness. I’m talking about things like reading gothic historical fiction books or participating in some church practices. Or like watching horror movies involving demons. Or like anything to do with dragons. Things you know He has made off limits to you but seems to have not forbidden them to anyone else that you know.

God always has a plan. And never is this plan about hurting us. His plan is always for good. Sometimes it’s to make us more like Jesus and to bring us closer to Him, or to make us more effective in the things He calls us to do. Other times His plan is not even about us but we are affected by it and He uses it for our good.

One day, years after giving my life to Jesus, I began to have a twitch in my heart every time I read one of my gothic historical romance books. Not sure what that was, I continued reading until the day it became clear that the twitch was the Holy Spirit gently telling me, “no”. Sadly, I packed up my numerous books and donated them to a thrift store.

Not long after that, I started getting the same twitch when watching horror movies with my husband, brother, and sister-in-law –something we enjoyed each time they came to visit. Not all horror movies, though. People fighting monsters was okay. But people attacking people was not. And anything with demons was a definite no. Yet, my family seemed to have no issue with any of  the movies.

Over the years, potential mentors, some church practices, compromises and half-truths joined the list. Either they were taken from me (friends moving away) or I had to take the steps to eliminate them myself. One of the hardest ones of all was my dragon collection. I loved dragon statues and dragon books. I had to give them all away.

The thing was, no one else I talked to was getting these same restrictions. All of the above was fine for them. Why weren’t they fine for me?  

Through years of prayer and research, I discovered that there were various reasons but most stemmed from a prayer I had prayed early in my Christian life. “Lord remove anything that comes between You and me, no matter how painful.”  He has honored that prayer. Quickly or slowly, He removed things that became more important than Him, things that caused me to compromise my integrity, things that tainted my faith in Him, and things that I trusted in rather than trusting in Him. Each time He removed something, He filled the space with something else, including a greater sense of His presence or knowledge of His character.

It has not been easy or fun, but it’s been worthwhile.

“Lord, continue to remove anything that comes between You and me, no matter how painful.”

***

PS. There is nothing sinful about dragons. They are beautiful and some of my favorite books are written about dragons. But the deeper I go with Jesus, the more committed I get to His Word, the more trouble I have enjoying anything that represents the enemy. Satan is seen as a dragon in the Bible and thus I can no longer have anything to do with them. Or at least that’s my guess on why I had to give away my whole collection of Dragonrider books.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9

Scriptures:

“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.” Psalm 26:2-3

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For ass the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isiah 55:8-9

A Prayer for SIL, Day 94

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, hold SIL tonight as she sleeps. Rock her in Your arms and sing love songs over her.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, God, make SIL aware that You are with her, that You are a mighty One who saves. Let her feel Your gladness as You rejoice over her. Quiet the war within her by Your love. And enable her spirit to hear You as You sing over her with loud singing.

In Your Loving Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 93

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Thank You, Father, for loving us and calling us to You. I saw the baby step SIL took today. She would not have taken it if it weren’t for You. I don’t know if she will take another baby step or if she will backslide like she’s done so many times, but for this moment, it’s enough.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

For it is You, Father, who works in SIL, both to give her the will to follow You and the ability to work for Your good pleasure, for Your plans, Your purposes, which may not always align with ours. Help me to align myself to You, to accept Your way as You work in SIL.

In Your Patient Hands,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 92

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Lord, I raise up SIL to You with all her warts and struggles and sinful behavior/attitudes. Forgive her, cleanse her, heal her as she starts to consider something/someone outside herself. As she emerges, protect her from the enemy. Take her hand and help her to stand and to take these first steps. Lord, she may not know what’s going on, but You do. And I pray that she cooperates with you.

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie. Psalm 40:4

Jesus, bless SIL. May she make You her trust. Keep her from being deceived or controlled or enticed by pride or lies. Help her to remain steadfastly looking to You.

In Your Firm Hand,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 91

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Jesus, fill SIL with Your Spirit as she sleeps. I know the Holy Spirit dwells in her, but I’m praying for a fresh outpouring, a renewing of the zeal she once had.

Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Cor 3:16

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel… and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God… Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?,,,The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts. Haggai 1:14; 2:3; 2:9

Lord, just as You stirred the people to restore Your temple in the Old Testament, I pray You stir SIL’s heart to restore Your temple, herself, to hold even greater zeal than her former years. And may You give her peace.

In Your Inviting Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 90

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Jesus, speak to SIL’s heart. Show her the truth. Take her hand and help her to walk in that truth. Don’t let her bury her head in the sand like she tends to do, but help her to confront her demons, the lies within her heart. Bring light into the darkness in her soul.

And I will lead the blind in a way they do not know, in paths they have not known. I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Father God, lead SIL like You led Your people years ago. She is generally blind to spiritual matters and needs You to guide her in paths that are unfamiliar to her. Turn the darkness before, around, and in her into light, and smooth out the rough places. Do Your thing with SIL and assure her that You will not and have not forsaken her.

In Your Faithful Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 89

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As the rain comes down steadily and gently, soaking the earth, may Your Spirit, Your healing power, rain down on SIL, soaking her heart and ending the drought that has made her susceptible to lies and deception. She is not worthless like she says she feels. She does not do everything wrong as she says she does. That’s the result of looking at herself and finding herself lacking. What’s lacking is the truth found in Your Word.

Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn. He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains to water the earth. Hosea 6:3

Jesus, may SIL press on to know You. As her eyes move from herself to You, may she open her heart to Your Word, your Truth, and allow the showers You bring to those who seek You to soak into her heart.

In Your refreshing Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 88

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Lord, heal whatever is going on in SIL. This new habit she has is driving me away from her. I don’t know if she is doing it on purpose because it’s self-soothing, or subconsciously, but it’s very annoying. Like fingernails on a chalkboard, I can’t ignore it. Show me how to navigate this new obstacle. If it’s something she can control, show her the need to do so. In the meantime, she’s slipping back into her self-centered ways. Call her back, Lord. Put Your Word before her. Create a thirst for Scripture and Bible study in her heart strong enough to overcome her reluctance to read, or to write, or to join other women, or even to listen to teachings online.

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some. Hebrews 10:25a

Jesus, call her, convict her, motivate her, provide for her, and support her in meeting with other believers, other women, whether in person, online, or through audio. She needs the words and zeal of other believers to challenge her to look outside herself.

In your Soothing Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 87

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It’s funny, Lord, how things can look so encouraging one day and so discouraging the next. And how hard it is to see the one we aren’t currently experiencing. When things with SIL look good, I feel that will only continue getting better. But when they aren’t looking good, like now, I feel they never will. I feel like a yo-yo. I wonder if SIL feels the same way I do. Does she get discouraged when things don’t look good on her side?

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in the God…Psalm 42:5a

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. 2 Corinthians 6a

Why are we cast down and filled with turmoil? We both know better. At least I know I do and pray that SIL does also. Help us to turn our eyes to You, to place our hope in You and not in what we are currently feeling. Feelings are fleeting and deceptive at times. You are not. Lord, You said in Your Word that You comfort the downcast. May we accept Your comfort in whatever form You send it.

In Your Comforting Name,

Amen

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 17 The Net

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My heart dropped at the sight of the dead fish laying on the rocks outside the pond. How did it get there? There was no way it could jump high enough to clear the sides of the pond. It must have been carried there. What could do that to a fish? I had never seen a possum or raccoon in my yard in the three years I’ve lived here so I doubt it was one  of them. A toad might try to eat one but wouldn’t be able to jump up out of the pond with one in its mouth. Even if it did, it wouldn’t just leave it once it started eating it. It had to be a bird. One of the many that live around the area, many of which eat fish.

I imagined a bird swooping down, grabbing a fish, and then accidently dropping it as it flew away. No way was that going to happen again, not if I can help it. I don’t care that other people say it’s just the circle of life and that if I want a pond with fish, I should let nature take its course. My heart is for my fish. They didn’t ask to be easy prey contained in my small pond. I’m the one who set them there. And I’m going to protect them.

I grieved for the lifeless fish in my hand. It had survived two winters under snow and ice, two hot summers when the water temperature rose to bath water temp, the recent traumatizing chase and capture in a net, and a temporary stay in a plastic tub. And now it was dead. Captured by the enemy. Dropped and forgotten. I buried it in my raised garden bed. At least it’s death is not wasted. And then I covered my pond with a large net. It may not look as pretty, but it’s much safer for my fish.

God chose the Israelites to be His. With the call of Abraham, He set them in place. His heart was for His people and He protected them.  There were other nations, but this is the one He focused on.

The Bible talks about people being protected under the shadow of God’s wings. Birds have wings. Angels have wings. Somehow I don’t think God actually has wings, although I could be wrong. I think God was using the same imagery Jesus used when He cried over Jerusalem.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Matthew 23:37

No one likes to be confined. We all long for freedom, which is what God created in us when He created Adam. The Bible doesn’t explicitly say that but it seems if Adam and Eve were told to go forth and dominate the world, that that was a lot of freedom. But sin entered the world and through disobedience Adam and Eve lost that freedom. There was an enemy now that wanted them and their offspring dead. And so God set His wings over the Israelites just like I set a net over my fish pond. As long as the Israelites stayed where He set them by loving and obeying Him, they were safe. But if they strayed out from under it through disobedience, they were easy prey for those who sought to harm them.

The net is not pretty. It was not what I wanted for my pond. But it is necessary at this time.

God’s laws may feel confining. They may not be what He wanted for mankind. But they are necessary at this time.

Instead of complaining about His commandments, maybe we should thank Him for setting His heart on us and protecting us from things we can’t see.

Scriptures:

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rule, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:15-20

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:7-9

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 10:14-16

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him, in love. Ephesians 1:3-4

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. Psalm 91:14