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Welcome!

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 Goldfish, Part 1 Feeding Time

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Every morning and evening my goldfish gather at the feeding spot until I arrive. Some swim with their mouths open, gulping in expectation of the food they would soon receive. Some swim near the surface appearing to look for food in the water around them as if it would suddenly appear. Which it does. Some seem to just be swimming around because the others are. And a few remain hidden under the floating plants.

When they see me, they swim faster around each other until the moment the food hits the water. Then a feeding frenzy breaks out with fish gulping at the food as if they had not been fed for days. Then slowly, one by one, they settle down and return to their normal lives.

I love watching them go from ordinary swimming to excited expectation to an explosion of activity and then back to ordinary swimming as they drift back under the plants that provide shade and protection. It reminds me of groups of Christians as they meet each week.

Some Christians come to church with their eyes looking up and with their hearts wide open, ready to receive any tidbit God sends down.

Some Christians come to church with a hope that they will find spiritual food sometime during the church service. But instead of looking up, they are looking at others such as the worship team or the preacher.

Some Christians attend church just because their families or friends do. They focus on each other, chit chatting until the preaching starts. And sometimes even after it starts.

And some Christians stay away from church until they get desperate.

When the service is at its peak – whatever that means in whichever denomination they are in – everyone seems focused on receiving from God. But before and after that, they are in different places.

For the goldfish, it doesn’t matter which place they are in – the food arrives for all of them and they all get fed regardless of how excited they are.

In a way, that is true for Christians also. The food – God’s Word – is available for all of us regardless of our enthusiasm. We can be in church or out of church, on fire for God or busy with our own lives – God’s nourishment arrives daily.

However, in both cases, for the fish and for the Christians, the food must be deliberately and personally ingested. The food doesn’t enter our bodies automatically, nor do we get fed by watching others eat. Fish must open their mouths and suck the fish food flakes in. We must open our ears to hear, to actively listen. But just listening won’t nourish any more than just looking at the food on a banquet table. We must open our hearts and chew on the Word of God.  We must take it into ourselves, meditate on it, and act on it.

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

Other Scriptures:

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8

I will ponder all your works and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:12

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

A Prayer for SIL, Day 99

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Father, pour out Your Spirit on SIL again as she sleeps. Give her dreams of You. She has not told me of any dreams that she’s had recently so I ask You to manifest Yourself so clearly in her dreams tonight, that You show her what she needs to see/know so powerfully that when she awakes all she can think and talk about is You – Your message, Your presence, and Your love.

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name”, there is in my heart as if it were burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9

For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b

Lord, I pray that You fill SIL so full of Your Spirit that she cannot help but share what she is learning with those around her.

In Your Revealing Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 98

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Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd. A shepherd not only watches over his flock but also monitors the health of the sheep. If one is injured or sick, the shepherd does what he must to restore the sheep to good health. That’s what I pray tonight for SIL. I pray that You, as her Shepherd, do what You need to do in order to restore her to good health both physically and spiritually.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2

Jesus, I pray that all may go well with SIL and the she may be in good health physically as she is in good health spiritually. If there is any area that is not good or well, I pray that You take care of that. No, not if. There are definitely areas that need Your attention. Restore her, Lord, that she may be at peace with You, with herself, and with others. Real peace. Not the peace that comes from ignoring issues but the peace that comes with healing them.

In Your Good Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 97

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Lord, God, she did it again. And she had no idea why it hurt me. “It’s just a joke. I didn’t know it offended you,” she had retorted and then dismissed the whole thing. Jesus, how did You live here without being offended by people? You got angry and frustrated at times – but at people’s lack of faith and their hypocrisy – not for personal reasons. Teach me how to do it so I can be more what I need to be with SIL instead of self-protecting and being too busy dealing with offenses.

Hated stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9

Lord, I pray that I will learn to cover offenses, sharing them only with You and those You direct me to. And that that will be enough.

I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.  Jeremiah 33:8

Father God, just as You forgave the Israelites time and time again, I pray You forgive us yet again. I pray that You cleanse us from all the guilt of our sin against You – for that is who we ultimately sin against – and that You forgive all the guilt of our sin and rebellion against You. When we don’t care if we offend someone, or if we withdraw from those who offend us, we are not obeying Your command to love others as ourselves. We are choosing not to obey. That’s rebellion. Jesus, I can’t repent for SIL, but I can pray that You forgive her just like You prayed that the Father forgive those who crucified You.

In Your Merciful Name,

Amen

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 19 The Path

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

In Part 18, my yard was complaining about losing more dirt, specifically in such a narrow band. It didn’t understand why the rich dirt was removed along with the dry clay.  My answer had been to make room for something new. Here it is. I think my yard is content now.

***

God will remove dirt in our lives – both old, dry things and rich, productive things – at times to make room for something new. Often it doesn’t make sense to us with our limited wisdom but when it’s finished, we will understand. Sometimes that happens when we are still alive; sometimes that happens only after we meet Him in heaven.

The path God sets us on may twist and turn for good reasons. Sometimes He has us go the way of least resistance (like I followed the dried clay) or to make the least amount of disturbance to others as possible (like I avoided as much grass as possible). Sometimes it’s to avoid an unnecessary battle (like a thick root) or to go around something that may cause injury (like my rose garden).

But no matter the shape or the length, we can be assured that God has good reasons for whatever path He has created for us. We just need to stay on it.

Scriptures:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:10

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. Acts 2:28

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. Psalm 17:5

A Prayer for SIL, Day 96

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Father God, You created SIL. You know her completely. There’s not a place in herself that she can hide from You.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, the darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:11-12

Meet SIL in those places she is trying to hide. She seems to believe that if she doesn’t think about something, it doesn’t exist. Show her how her past and her present are related and show her the unresolved areas in her heart that her mind doesn’t want to think about. With You there, holding her hand and leading her, she will be healed and set free.

Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:10

In You Light,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 95

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Lord, I want to give up, to accept things as they are, to dismiss any hope that things will get better. But those are my feelings talking. Your Spirit and my spirit both say to always hope. Your Spirit and my spirit both say to trust You. And so I will. Regardless of what SIL does or does not do. Regardless of what my flesh things should be happening right now. Regardless of what my mind understands or doesn’t understand. I will look to You. You have not given up hope.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor 13:7

You have not stopped loving SIL, neither have you stopped working in her. So I will continue praying.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 2 Cor 13:9

Lord, I know that Paul wasn’t talking to You but to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians  13:9, and that the power Paul spoke about in 2 Corinthians 12:9 was for testifying and teaching. But with Your permission, I would like to use as the basis of my prayer tonight.

Thank You, Lord, that Your grace is sufficient for me, and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. I will be glad when I am weak in my faith and desire to pray for SIL like I feel tonight. I know that You are strong all the time and that SIL’s restoration is what we both want. Knowing my weakness, I know it will not be me when SIL is restored, but Your power resting on me. All the glory will be Yours!

In Your Powerful Name,

Amen

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 18   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

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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