Lisa Cline's Blog, page 57
March 3, 2014
Why I will not eat for thirty days
“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
– Joshua 3:5
I may not know a lot of things, but I do know the voice of my Father God who leads me and guides me and loves me so.
I know that I can trust Him. I know that when He tells me to do something it is because He loves me and wants me to prosper in some way shape or form.
So when He calls me to fast I do not hesitate.
I am no stranger to fasting. I have done three forty day fasts, a few ten days ones, as well as other small ones.
I may do the fasts, but (except for the first one) I have never initiated one that has ever succeeded.
I know it is not that way for most Christians, but if I want to fast for days over an issue I usually last about half a day.
I get so hungry and faint, I feel like I am dying (It’s ridiculous I know).
But when God puts it on my heart to fast…it’s a piece of cake (oh wait that’s a pun…sorry about that).
I have seen such amazing things happen, seen Good open doors, shut them, or just plain heal and restore.
So when He called me to consecrate myself for ministry by fasting for thirty days, even though I was not very familiar for the term, I was ready.
He told me to start on the third day of the third month and to finish on April 3rd. Those days have meaning but more on that for another day.
I am excited to press into all that God has for me in and through this fast. As God puts it on your heart to do so, please keep me in prayer, and know that I am praying for you as well.
I am not eating solid food but I am feeding on the word of God.
And although I do not broadcast every fasting experience I do believe that God has called me to blog about it this time.
I feel as though He is wanting someone to know today that it is His grace alone that gets you through the hard things He calls you to do.
Sometimes when God called us to do something we get so caught up in trying to figure out how to make it happen that we forget that it’s not our job.
We are to come to God like children, not immature, but trusting.
For the most part kids really don’t give a lot of thought to how things are going to, or did, happen.
Christmas morning they are not deeply contemplating how the bearded man got the bike in through the glass fireplace, they are too busy riding the bike for that.
We have to stop allowing ourselves to get in the way of what God wants to do. We have to Trust and obey and let Him figure it all out.
Photo – © Alexandr79 – Fotolia.com
March 2, 2014
God’s job vs our job
It’s Gods job to get us where He wants us to go. Our job is to make ourselves available anytime, anyplace. Mark Batterson
Why I want to appear foolish
Faith is the willingness to look foolish. – Mark Batterson
I love that quote. He talks about how when God calls us to do something it often requires us to look foolish in front of others.
Whether or not we are going to look stupid if we are obedient to God should never be our determining factor.
We should be willing to do what God calls us to do despite the fact that it may look as though we will fall on our face.
I believe that our obedience in this area is a major way that God reaches others.
People need to see God do miracles in our lives so that they could believe that maybe, just maybe, He could do the same in theirs.
photo © iQoncept – Fotolia.com
February 28, 2014
When what you do doesn’t matter
“That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed.
If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an iron-clad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect.
But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God’s promise at that—you can’t break it. This is why the fulfillment of God’s promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God’s promise arrives as pure gift.
That’s the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that’s reading the story backward. He is our faith father.” (Romans 4:13–16, The Message)
February 27, 2014
100 Posts, 7 reasons, and 1 freaken amazing quote
Anyone who knows me knows I suck at blogs (can I say that…ok I “stink” at them).
I have tried (and failed) at starting a blog more times that I can shake a stick at (whatever the heck that means).
To me blog writing always equaled homework (something I had to do) and so I started many blogs that were fated to die a quick death. I thought I was done…but then God…
Trusting God (this blog) was different because
1. God put on my heart to start a blog (wasn’t sure about what)
2. I mentioned it to my pastor (because I knew my history)
3. We prayed
4. The idea popped in my head, I was amazed “Trusting God” that plus my writing is what I do, the perfect fit
5. I took a step of faith and for the first time payed for a professional blog, professional layout, and all the fixings (as God led …usually my blogs were freebies with lots of distracting adds)
6. I quickly fell in love with posting (why because I love God with all my heart and know that encouraging Christians to trust him just that much more, is my thing.
7. This is the 100th post….proof that there is a God!!!
In honor of that fact I offer up the following From All in From Mark Patterson
“When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort?That playing it safe is safe? That there is any greater privilege than sacrifice? That radical is anything but normal?
Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.
Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It is storming the gates of hell.
The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan.
The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radicle it’s normal.
It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
It’s time to go all in and all out for the All in All.
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Ps Thanks to all who have read, liked, or added this blog. It encourages me to keep going:)
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Photo= © robynmac – Fotolia.com
Blessed is the one…
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12
Keep trusting God!
February 26, 2014
Just because…
- Christine Cain
“Religion observes but faith acts. Faith steps forward. F...
“Religion observes but faith acts. Faith steps forward. Faith takes risks and thereby reaps rewards. What risks are you prepared to take to move toward and fulfill your destiny?” Russ Walden
February 25, 2014
When you are going through the valley remember…
If you are going through a rough season, be encouraged, as you surrender to God and all that He has for you , if you keep going, if you do not quit and turn back to where you are comfortable, if you persist you WILL one day stand upon the mountain of God.
With all you have, all that you possess, nothing can compare with what is in front of you!
February 24, 2014
The lost one
What an important and powerful message!!!
Originally posted on Mustard Seed Budget:
Not one of the lost ones in the church in Guatemala.
At 11 years of age, a former student told his little brother and sister to not move while he hung himself in front of them. The tykes obeyed.
What angst or demon would a boy to such unthinkable horrors as rival the Holocaust? I cannot comprehend. It tears me up inside. What could we have done to avoid this?
