As part of my devotional time each day, I read a portion from "MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST" by Oswald Chambers. Today's devotional spoke directly to my heart as this is exactly what God has been teaching me over the past months...
As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and physically gratifying possibilities will open up before you...God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the appropriate thing to consider, if you were not living the life of faith. But if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and allow God to make your choice for you. This is the discipline God uses to transform the natural into the spiritual through obedience to His voice. Whenever our right becomes the guiding factor of our lives, it dulls our spiritual insight. The greatest enemy of the life of faith is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough [not what God wants for us]...Many of us do not grow spiritually because we prefer to choose on the basis of our rights...we have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eyes focused on God. And God says to us, as He did to Abram, "...walk before Me..." (Genesis 17:1)
As I was sharing with some other friends this week, this is what God revealed to me last summer as I was trying to decide where God was leading. I should know by now that it's not up to me to decide, but I am still learning this lesson. And I have discovered the wondrous joy of giving up my rights and allowing God to choose where I should go -- there is a supernatural peace that fills the soul and the heart when I am following God's leading and when I know that it is the best purpose for me that He is working out in my life.
Lord, please help me to remember that what I think is good may not be the best, or what You desire for me. I want to walk before You with my eyes focused on You and Your faithfulness, and I thank You for the promise that if I will give up my "rights" that You will guide me in the way that You know is best for me.
About Me
- Darlene Joy Koop
- I am a disciple of Christ and I desire to love and serve God in everything. I have many passions and I desire to share my adventures, joys and struggles to encourage others in their faith.
Friday, May 25, 2012
LOOKING UP...AND HOLDING ON
The title describes how I am living day-by-day as I prepare for one of the biggest changes in my life. But it is something that I have to continually remind myself of, because learning to walk by faith is a process. I am so thankful that God is patient with me and that "He knows [my] frame, He remembers that [I am] dust" -- Psalm 103:14.
Looking Up -- I have been making a decided effort to spend time in God's Word and prayer before I start every day, and I've asked my prayer partner to help keep me accountable. Without this, it is incredibly easy to start looking at my circumstances and wondering if I'm going to be able to do what I need to do and how everything is going to come together. I need to keep "looking unto Jesus."
I started this post back in April, but am now finishing it on May 25th, and I am amazed at how God continues to teach me what He wants to do in my life...
Holding On -- It is easy, being a short-sighted and finite human being, to lose sight of what God has already done and what He is going to do to fulfil the good purposes He has for me. This "holding on" is, I believe, how we keep focus in the midst of changes and uncertainties. I need to remember what the LORD, our Sovereign God, has done already and to keep holding on to the truth that He "is faithful to all His promises" (Psalm 145), and as I do that, I will be encouraged as I continue to take steps of faith and trust along the way.
Looking Up -- I have been making a decided effort to spend time in God's Word and prayer before I start every day, and I've asked my prayer partner to help keep me accountable. Without this, it is incredibly easy to start looking at my circumstances and wondering if I'm going to be able to do what I need to do and how everything is going to come together. I need to keep "looking unto Jesus."
I started this post back in April, but am now finishing it on May 25th, and I am amazed at how God continues to teach me what He wants to do in my life...
Holding On -- It is easy, being a short-sighted and finite human being, to lose sight of what God has already done and what He is going to do to fulfil the good purposes He has for me. This "holding on" is, I believe, how we keep focus in the midst of changes and uncertainties. I need to remember what the LORD, our Sovereign God, has done already and to keep holding on to the truth that He "is faithful to all His promises" (Psalm 145), and as I do that, I will be encouraged as I continue to take steps of faith and trust along the way.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A FULL LIFE
Contrary to popular belief, I have not forgotten that I have a blog...
I've just been very, very busy!!
I thought that perhaps I would update it while on my trip to Alberta in March...but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Then, it was Missions Conference and Easter, and travelling and all of a sudden, it's almost the end of April and I haven't touched my blog for weeks!
It also takes time to express what I'm thinking and feeling, and I'm finally in the right "mood" for it today.
MARCH -- Alberta Trip
I met my nephew for the first time and we had a wonderful time together as a family!!
I also had a fantastic time visiting with old friends, making new friends, visiting churches and sharing about my passion for the orphanage ministry in Ukraine!
We had safe travels, ate lots of good food and enjoyed sweet fellowship all along the way!
MARCH - APRIL ~ Missions Conference
Our church here in Ashcroft hosted a missions conference at the end of March, and it was great!!
I was especially privileged to meet the Carlaws, an EFCCM missionary family serving in Hungary, and Marina & Jenia Dilevskiy, a Ukrainian couple serving with the EFCCM in Ukraine. I anticipate seeing these dear people again when I get to Ukraine.
APRIL -- Celebrating Easter
My dad's sister and her husband came down from Penticton to visit us over the Easter weekend, and it was a fun and special time.
We also enjoyed a wonderful sunrise service on Easter Sunday and a special morning service celebrating our risen Lord!!
APRIL -- More Travelling
On April 14, we went down to Abbotsford to surprise my Oma on her 80th birthday -- she didn't know we were coming!! It was a great time, and I enjoyed meeting and visiting with relatives I haven't seen for years!
I also had the privilege of sharing with Abbotsford EFC on Sunday and then spent some time with friends before returning on Monday, April 15. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of contacting people, making travel arrangements and plans for April and May and even into June!!
I'm not complaining -- it is a bit challenging to make my own schedule and ensure that everything important gets done, but I am enjoying this new stage of life and there is SO MUCH to do in a very short amount of time!! However, I will try much harder to be disciplined about my blog -- 'cause it is important and I do enjoy writing and sharing with you all!
Blessings in the Lord, friends!
I've just been very, very busy!!
I thought that perhaps I would update it while on my trip to Alberta in March...but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Then, it was Missions Conference and Easter, and travelling and all of a sudden, it's almost the end of April and I haven't touched my blog for weeks!
It also takes time to express what I'm thinking and feeling, and I'm finally in the right "mood" for it today.
MARCH -- Alberta Trip
I met my nephew for the first time and we had a wonderful time together as a family!!
I also had a fantastic time visiting with old friends, making new friends, visiting churches and sharing about my passion for the orphanage ministry in Ukraine!
We had safe travels, ate lots of good food and enjoyed sweet fellowship all along the way!
MARCH - APRIL ~ Missions Conference
Our church here in Ashcroft hosted a missions conference at the end of March, and it was great!!
I was especially privileged to meet the Carlaws, an EFCCM missionary family serving in Hungary, and Marina & Jenia Dilevskiy, a Ukrainian couple serving with the EFCCM in Ukraine. I anticipate seeing these dear people again when I get to Ukraine.
APRIL -- Celebrating Easter
My dad's sister and her husband came down from Penticton to visit us over the Easter weekend, and it was a fun and special time.
We also enjoyed a wonderful sunrise service on Easter Sunday and a special morning service celebrating our risen Lord!!
APRIL -- More Travelling
On April 14, we went down to Abbotsford to surprise my Oma on her 80th birthday -- she didn't know we were coming!! It was a great time, and I enjoyed meeting and visiting with relatives I haven't seen for years!
I also had the privilege of sharing with Abbotsford EFC on Sunday and then spent some time with friends before returning on Monday, April 15. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of contacting people, making travel arrangements and plans for April and May and even into June!!
I'm not complaining -- it is a bit challenging to make my own schedule and ensure that everything important gets done, but I am enjoying this new stage of life and there is SO MUCH to do in a very short amount of time!! However, I will try much harder to be disciplined about my blog -- 'cause it is important and I do enjoy writing and sharing with you all!
Blessings in the Lord, friends!
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