Day 269 The Secret Path

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18

Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. He accepted the difficulty and discipline of life in order to share with the lives of His followers.

Today's devotional touched my heart. I know we all have experienced suffering or difficulty in one way or another. But when we walk through it with Jesus we find comfort because He knows what it is like to suffer.

Jesus shared in our human suffering.

The two women who asked AJ Russell to publish their journals as the God Calling devotional book often write just what I need to hear. I quote what God spoke to them in today's journal entry:

"Beloved, you are called to save and share in a very special way. The way of sorrows if walked with Me, the Man of Sorrows, is a path kept sacred and secret for My nearest and dearest, those whose one desire is to do all for Me, to sacrifice all for Me, to count, as My servant Paul did, "All things but loss so that they night gain Me."

In my walk with God through the challenges of life on this secret path, I have found His unconditional love.

I feel accepted by my beloved Christ.

I have experienced forgiveness beyond understanding.

He has been my strength.

I hope He is your strength too.

God bless your heart with strength as you walk this secret path.

Gigi
http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The idea for this blog post came from the September 28 devotion in God Calling by AJ Russell.

Day 188 Painful Preparation

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Sometimes it is difficult to understand the things that happen in our lives.

Why are there hurting people?

Why are babies born with disabilities?

Why is there sickness and disease?

Why didn't you get that job?

Why were you chosen in the lay off?

The "Whys" can drive one crazy.

When our son Gabe was born with multiple congenital birth defects the "why" questions swirled through my mind like a tornado.

I learned from a letter I received from my friend Dianne Bratz that it really is best to trust and give my "why" questions to the one who replies "Be still and know that I am God."

I realized early on that God gives me the grace to handle everything that comes my way. I may not understand why it is so but I receive the mercy and grace from God to handle it. He gets me through every trial.

I can't do it on my own.

I think back through the past twenty years of raising our Gabriel. I know that everything that has happened in my life has been used by God as preparation for the work He has laid before me.

Our nonprofit ministry – Gabriel's Foundation of HOPE - to families dealing with disability would not have been created if not for our personal experience with disability. I learned from my mom's disability that resulted from a high school accident. I learned from my brother Bob who was born 70% deaf. I've grown up with a compassionate heart for those who suffer. My own suffering is helping others through my ministry and my writing.

http://www.gabeshope.org/

I pray today that you will let God use the fiery trial you face as preparation for the work He has in store for you to serve others through your story.

I pray today that we will bring Glory to Christ as we choose to seek Him for the grace to carry on. He'll give you the power to overcome the trials as you trust and obey.

God Bless your heart with a vision of how God will use you to help someone who may benefit from your life story.

Gigi

http://www.gigimurfitt.com/

The theme for this blog came from the July 7 entry in the God Calling book by AJ Russell.

Choose LIFE

I have been enjoying my morning quiet time using the One Year Book of HOPE by Nancy Guthrie. I discovered this devotional after reading Nancy's incredible book titled: "Holding on to HOPE - A pathway through suffering to the heart of God." This book tells the story of Nancy's journey of suffering as she loved and cared for her daughter Hope and her son Gabriel who were both born with a rare birth defect allowing them to live only about six months.

I was overwhelmed by the names Nancy chose for her babies since our nonprofit organization is Gabriel's Foundation of HOPE. I read the book with tears as I related to some of the struggles Nancy and her husband David and older son Matt went through as they walked the path of suffering.
When I finished the book I immediately picked up The One Year Book of HOPE devotional. I have loved it and although I may not complete a devotional every day, my journal is filling up fast!

I relate so much to each daily devotional and it sets me on a journey into Scripture that starts my day with a refreshing spirit of peace. I've been amazed at the providence of God for the timing of the particular daily study compared to what I am going through at the time.

This week I've been overwhelmed by the goodness of God in how he meets me right where I need Him to be. He gives me tools to keep me going on the path He designed for my life. Oh believe me, I've strayed from that path too many times to count and sometimes the result is disastrous. I get up out of the ditch with scars to show from my detour and God always gets me back on the path headed in the right direction.
Today's devotional reminded me to choose life. Guthrie states "Every life is valuable because God gives life and breath to everything. God is also the source of satisfaction and meaning in life."

I love this scripture referenced in the devotion for the subject of LIFE.

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’


Here is another Scripture I'm chewing on today:
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Oh that those I love would CHOOSE life! Oh that our nation would choose GOD! That is my prayer today as I venture out into the world.
May the God of HOPE fill you with all Joy and Peace as you trust in Him!