Trusting God through the Seasons of our Lives

This week I have been able to see the grace of God just rain down on several of my friends and family and in our home. My sister and brother-in-law's house finally sold! They are now searching for a new place to call home! I have had a friend who has been seeking to grow and glorify God even in the midst of some very difficult times in her marriage, one of my other dear friends called me in tears on Monday morning as she is very lonely and in the midst of a trial I would never want to experience. Another one of my friends found out recently her parents marriage is in need of a touch from our Savior. I have had to be reminded several times this week by Steve that Reagan is responding to discipline even if I can't see it on a day to day basis - especially through the last month. Through each of these situations is a common thread. Through each of these situations we are all called to trust our Lord and Savior and bring glory to His name. On Sunday evening we began a new Ladies School of the Word at church and Sandie Brooks came and spoke to us. The teaching was wonderful (I'm sure if you want to hear it you can find it at here) and the notes are just too good not to share. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through these notes and quotes! This message has brought much conviction and encouragement to me personally this week and I have been able to draw upon His Word as I have been praying for my friends and family who are learning, too, to trust God's sovereignty no matter what the day may bring.

Trusting God through the

Seasons of our Lives

Ladies’ School of the Word

Sandie Brooks

January 28, 2007

I. Sovereignty Defined

A. To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is in charge of the entire universe all the time.

B. Sovereignty refers to absolute, total rule and control over all things.

C. Scriptural foundation:

1. Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

2. Lamentations 3:37, “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?”

3. James 4:15, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’"

4. Job 42:2, "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

5. Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”

D. Is it important that we maintain this doctrine of God’s Sovereignty? Most definitely!

E. The sovereignty of God is not a secondary issue but is completely foundational to everything we stand on.

“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of their Master over all creation – the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands – the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that throne ... for it is God upon the Throne whom we trust.” C.H. Spurgeon

Romans 8:28 (ESV), “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

II. Sovereignty Explored

A. The sovereignty of God is a very HUMBLING doctrine.

B. It’s an EXALTING doctrine because it gives us a big view of God.

1. God’s ways and thoughts are incomprehensible to us.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“That he cares not is just as unthinkable as that He can not.” Philip Hughes

C. It’s a CLARIFYING doctrine because it teaches that there is no such thing as luck, chance, fate or coincidence.

D. Finally, it is an EMPOWERING doctrine.

III. Sovereignty Applied

A. Understanding God’s sovereignty causes us to focus on Him, not ourselves.

B. We often live as though God is not the Sovereign One when we…

1. Worry

“We are not at the mercy of people who intend to harm us, even though from our human perspective it may seem so. God is sovereign in their actions whether we believe it or not. Our belief does not make it so. But the comfort God intends for us to derive from His sovereignty is dependent upon our believing it. Those who do not believe God is sovereign over the intents and actions of others do not enjoy this comfort. They often struggle unduly with the sinful actions of other people and, in many instances, allow bitterness to ruin their lives.” Jerry Bridges

“There are innumerable events and circumstances of our lives that, considered in themselves, are calculated to make us afraid. If God were not in sovereign control of those situations, Jesus’ words would be meaningless. If God is not in control, then I ought to be afraid. It is of little comfort to me to know that God loves me if he is not in control of the events of my life.” Jerry Bridges

a. Psalm 9:10, “Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

b. Matthew 10:28-30 (ESV), “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”

2. Regret

a. Psalm 18:30, “This God – His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

b. Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

“All the way my Savior leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,

Hereby faith in Him to dwell

For I know, whate’ere befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me

O the fullness of His love,

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day,

This my song through endless ages,

Jesus led me all the way.”

Fanny Crosby

3. Fear

4. Grumbling and complaining

a. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Ecclesiastes 7:14, “When times are good be happy; but when time are bad, consider: God made the one as well as the other.”

5. The way He has made us is according to His plan.

a. “Everything about which we are tempted to complain may be the very instrument whereby the Potter intends to shape His clay into the image of His Son…A headache, an insult, a long line at the checkout, someone’s rudeness or failure to say thank you, misunderstanding, disappointment, interruption.”

“Wouldn’t our children learn godliness if they saw in us the example of contentment instead of complaint, acceptance instead of rebellion and peace instead of frustration?” Elisabeth Elliott

“You will never enjoy other people, you will never have stable emotions, you will never lead a life of godly contentment, you will never conquer jealousy and love others as you should until you thank God for making you the way He did.” James Hufstetler

Psalm 139:13, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."

6. Conflict

IV. Conclusion

A. Knowledge of sovereignty is meant to encourage us to pray, not lapse into fatalism.

“As prayer without faith is but a beating of the air, so trust without prayer is but a presumptuous bravado. He that promises to give, and bids us trust his promises, commands us to pray and expects obedience to his commands. He will give, but not without our asking.” Thomas Lye, Puritan Preacher

B. We should walk through adversity in peace.

Lamentations 3:33, “…for He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men.”

C. Pray that you come to a deep conviction about these things, before you are wrestling with adversity or suffering.

God's Sovereignty and My Mom

Last night we began a new series for our Ladies School of the Word at church. I had the privilege of being able to honor my mom during the meeting. Here is what I was able to share. I could hardly keep back the tears (at moments I couldn't!) as I shared this. God's grace truly is amazing!

What an honor and privilege it is for me to be able to honor my Mom tonight! She is one of the people I know the best and my admiration and respect continue to grow for her as I get to know her better and better. She is not only my mom, but she is also one of my best friends.

Throughout my mom’s journey I have been able to watch her accept the sovereignty of God’s hand on her life – even in the most difficult of times. She has done so in a way that I believe has brought God glory and she has readily recognized God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness to her through each season she has walked through. You see, my mom raised my two sisters and myself almost entirely on her own. She recovered from malignant bone cancer when I was four years old, and probably one of the most difficult trials she has walked through was leaving her family, friends, and home of 50 years to move me here and to live closer to my sister Tish. Though she has been through even more trials than these, I can probably count on one hand how many times I have heard her complain. I’m sure she has had to work through many heart issues, but as far as hearing her grumble against our Lord outwardly I’ve never heard her do that. That shows me that although she may not understand what is happening or why God has chosen this path for her, that she knows He knows what is best for her and desires to do her good and not harm all the days of her life.

So many times I think about how God is being glorified through her life. In the past ten years since my mom and I relocated and started coming to Metro, I have seen my mom thrive. I have seen her work through moving here and not knowing anyone – like I said she literally started over after 50 years of living in a small town. And although she was very sad at times, she didn’t wallow in self-pity or become bitter, but she jumped in and became involved with the church and with home group. She has used her singleness, and now her empty nest =) as a way to serve, and serve and serve those around her. Her home is always open and she loves being able to have the flexibility to have her home group ladies over once a month, or to house someone coming in from out of town, or if anyone just needs to get away for a couple of days for a personal retreat she will give up her home so that others have an opportunity to spend some quiet time with the Lord. She is always looking for someone she can help or just bring a little more happiness into their life…like finding shower gifts for young couples or new babies, or shopping for one of my friends babies since his grandparents live out of town, or taking Ruby to the mall (hmmm…I’m seeing a shopping theme here!), or making meals for someone, or babysitting just about anytime she is asked by my sister, my friends or me!

And speaking of babysitting, that is another area I have been able to see my mom trust in the sovereignty of God in her life. My mom did not have the teaching we are able to benefit from on raising our children. When we moved here I was 16 and though my mom could have continued raising me the way she had been, she embraced the teaching and desired to learn and grow. There were times where I believe she would say she would regret some of things she did while raising us, but at the time she was doing the very best she knew how too. Still, even though I was a teenager, she began reading books like Shepherding a Child’s Heart and going to parenting seminars. Because God’s sovereignty in bringing us here, my mom has been able to humbly grow and learn about parenting. She has seen the resources that God has made available to her through messages and friends and reading and she has taken full advantage of them. And because she has chosen to embrace change and the life the Lord has blessed her with – even with all the trials along the way, she is now leaving my children a legacy that will point them towards our Savior. She is someone I can learn from and ask questions of as I raise my two little girls and I know she is going to bring observations up to Steve and I so that we can grow in our parenting and in training our little ones.

She is not a sixty year old woman who thinks about slowing down (trust me, she does not mind me telling you her age – she is quite proud of the years she has been alive!). She is a sixty year old woman who is making the most of her days. I am inspired to see how she has embraced growing in godliness. I am amazed at how someone, who could just say they are “too set in their ways to change” is pursuing others for input on how she can grow and change so that she can better glorify our Savior. She also is a studier of God’s Word and of different books and messages. I love when I go into her home and she has her Bible open by her chair, or when Reagan comes back from her house and tells me stories that my mom has read to her about our Savior. She many not walk around everyday saying “I trust God’s sovereignty for my life”, but her joy and her attitude on a daily basis (and yes, I talk to her just about everyday!) shouts out that she believes the Lord is lovingly caring for her and leading her in the direction He has set before her. There is a quote by Jim Elliot in which he says “Wherever you are - be all there”. Whether my mom is at work, at home, on vacation, at church, serving at a dinner, babysitting – wherever she is definitely all there. She loves the Lord and she loves life. How much she loves the Lord and loves life is evidence to me that she believes that through each season the Lord is with her and will see her through until she meets with Him in glory!

Just a Cruisin'!

Steve, me, Dena and Derek headed out to Mexico for a 5 day, 4 night cruise. What an absolute blast we had! Despite the 12 ft waves that caused a rockin' boat for 4 of the 5 days, we still had a great time! We ate, watched shows, ate, laughed, ate, slept, ate, watched Dena sing Karoke, ate some more, explored a Mexican jungle, ate, shopped in Cozumel, OH, and did I mention we ate?!?!

Here are my top 10 highlights from our trip:

1. Spending time with my husband with no distractions - no work, no phones, no computers, no kiddos, no yard work - just us being able to hang out and laugh and talk!

2. Spending time with our friends and getting to catch up with what is going on in their lives! Being able to share fun memories with them! (Dena and I have been friends for 10 years now!)

3. Coming back from dinner to see what adorable towel animal would be awaiting us on our bed!

4. Being served dinner four nights in a row and getting to try all different types of food and yummy desserts. Oh, and pizza at midnight!

5. Laying out on the deck and reading a good book.

6. Scaring Derek in the hallway!

7. Taking a nap in the middle of the day (even if it was because I just couldn't hold my eyes open from the medicine I took so I wouldn't get seasick!).

8. Going on the zip lines and swimming in the caverns in Mexico =)!

9. Watching Dena pretend like she was me for the Game Show!

They called my name, but Dena was definitely the better one to answer the trivia questions, so she energetically ran up to compete! It was very funny when she announced her husband as Steve Roberts!

10. Did I mention just being able to get away with my hubby?!?!

The girls had a vacation of their own while we were away...they stayed with their Grannie, Siti, Grandpappy, and Tia.

Reagan-Reagan-Bo-Beagan!

Reagan loves singing this little song over and over again these days. She likes plugging in all different names and she gets a good little giggle out of it! Here are some updated shots of her!

Reagan, Steve and Sydney out looking at Christmas lights!
Reagan playing at Grannie's.
Waking up on Christmas morning!
Driving her jeep from Mrs. Jennifer.
I just like this one!
Mia and Reagan made yummy - yet not very sturdy - gingerbread houses for Christmas. Ours actually ended up more like a gingerbread pile! =) But it was so much fun!!!
"I love cookies and candy!!"

I do believe we ate more than actually put on the house!

Snapshots of Sydney!

Here are some updated shots of our little cutie-pie!
This is her "I'm-not-so-sure-about-this-food-stuff" look!

She is freely giving away smiles these days and boy, are they contagious!
Isn't she a chubby little doll baby?!?!
She and Reagan have been playing together upstairs. She loves Reagan's Little People - especially how their heads taste!
Her she is at 8 months old.
She loves her Daddy! Here they are flying around the park!

Fun at the Office

For any of you who have ever watched the office, you can appreciate the following pictures! After watching an episode where Jim "preserves" Dwight's desk supplies in Jell-O, Steve decided he would have fun with one of the guys in his office. Mike, who is also an office fan, got a few laughs out of Steve's prank. Watch out Ben, you could be next =)!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I can hardly believe it is the middle of January. This year is already passing by way too quickly! This new year has brought about lots of new changes for our family! Here's the skinny...

We'll start with the smallest first!

Sydney is almost 9 months old. Wow! She finally has her first tooth. It decided to poke out right before Steve and I left for vacation last week. With the tooth has come a new found happiness for our little cutie pie! She has been much happier lately (except around 5 PM which is her normal fussy time). Scooting around super fast is what she is up to these days. She is starting to get into everything! She loves playing with her big sister - especially with her little balls and her monkeys. She is starting to babble more and more. Her and Reagan will sit in the back seat and jabber to one another while we run errands. She is a great napper and sleeper, for which I am so grateful for and I am also so incredibly grateful that she has remained so healthy for the last 9 months!

Reagan has several different titles that she will call herself now...she is "my big helper", she is "Sydney's best friend", and she is "The cooking butterfly" (that's a new one as of today!! Today she was working in her kitchen with her wings on and announced to me that she was the "Cooking Butterfly" and that she was baking me chocolates! She is definitely my big helper - she picks up all her toys when she's done with them, she "helps" me fold clothes, she helps me empty the dishwasher, and she watches her sister when I am working on something! And the great thing is as of right now, I don't have to ask her twice to do these things...she wants to do them! (Well, maybe she's not always so excited to pick up her toys =)!) And as for being Sydney's best friend - I hope that title will last for a long, long, long time! She has been so sweet with her. Right now she is learning that she has to share with her sister, but even with that she is doing well. I know right now is the time for me to really watch and train her to be kind to Sydney and that is only going to help their friendship grow and grow!

Steve and I just returned from a cruise with our friends Derek and Dena. It was an absolute blast (I'll post more about it when I post the pictures from it!) We decided to go now because Steve will be starting a new job in about a week and he needed to use up his vacation time from his old job. We are so excited about this new job he will be beginning. He'll be working with a guy from church and another guy he went to school with. He'll only be working about 4 miles from home and he'll still be doing *cool* simulation work! God has been so faithful to provide this job. Steve had a couple of other offers, but through much prayer and counsel we believe this is where he is supposed to go. He also just began 2 classes at UCF...after these 2 he will only have 3 more before completing his Masters. We will definitely be celebrating then! =) This will be a tough semester, so please pray that God will give us much patience and grace during this season and also that we will be very intentional with our time as there won't be to much of it to spare! We also began hosting a Home Group at our house and we are so excited! It is so neat to see the group of people the Lord has brought together and we are looking forward to just getting to know everyone better. Steve has done a great job (I can say this and publish it because he's not reading it first =)!!) and I'm so proud of him! It's been so neat to watch him grow over these past few months and also to see him get so nervous (that's a rarity!) before group! We are so grateful for all the teaching we receive and grateful that we have these mid-week meetings to learn and grow more and be in fellowship with other people from church! My days haven't changed much at all...I pretty much do the same things everyday, but I wouldn't trade 'em for anything! The girls keep me busy all day long and Steve does, too! =) I love being able to be available to them, though! OK, well speaking of - it's time for lunches, naps, etc! Gotta go for now! More to come...

Quick Christmas Update!

We had a wonderful Christmas. We all had so much fun going to look at Christmas lights and spending time with our family and playing with all our new toys. For Christmas we spent Saturday at my Mom's with Mark and Tish and the girls and played, ate dinner, opened presents and went to see the house that is lit up more that Chevy Chase's on National Lampoon Christmas! Christmas Eve we celebrated Christ's birth at church and then went to the Roberts' for dinner. Reagan found a new best friend in her cousin Josh. He played with her most of the evening (even though he's in high school, he won a two year olds friendship for life!). Christmas morning we woke up in our own home and Steve read the Christmas story to the girls before we went downstairs and opened presents. It was Mama's year to spend the night with us, so it was fun having her here to see the girls open up all their goodies first thing in the morning! The Roberts came over mid-morning and then we all headed back over to their house that evening. It was a wonderful weekend! Reagan asked me yesterday when it is going to be time for Christmas again! I told her she's going to have to wait a while. Next year, she's told me, she wants to bake a cake for Jesus' birthday! I love that that's what she thinks of first when she thinks of Christmas!

Sydney liked the paper on the gifts!

Really, they are happy!

Reagan loves her aqua doodle!

Annual Christmas Eve Family Photo!

Yeah! I love getting to open a present the night before Christmas! The last couple of years Steve has gone shopping and bought all us girls Christmas P.J.s!

I made him a book on many of things I love about him!

Here's Sydney bright and early on Christmas morning!

Reagan loves her piano from her Grandpa!

Look! She can sit up!

Reagan and Emma on Christmas Eve!

Sydney opening her present from Grannie!

Yeah! Christmas lights and cookies!

This was just a man sitting in his yard while we were looking at lights!