Have you ever been told something super crazy, radical even, or maybe a little overwhelming?

Have you ever been told something like that, by God?

What about this... 

Has God ever told you to ask him for something, said, crazy, radical, or overwhelming?

Has he ever told you to believe him for that specific thing you were to ask him for?

The answer for me is, yes. 

Here's the story...

*I'll try to keep this short, but no guarantees*

Nearly four years ago I heard God tell me something specific (this specific thing will not be shared at this time). At first, I somewhat brushed it off as just a "thought" that came to mind; that was until God didn't leave me alone about it. Life went on just as usual but one day, he said it to me, again. This time, however, he told me to ask him for that specific thing he told me. He didn't stop there though... He then told me to believe him; believe that he would give me the very thing he told me to ask him for. 

*Interjection*

If you have ever been in this kind of situation with the Lord, you can probably imagine the hesitation I felt. I wanted to be obedient to God, but this just seemed crazy. Ya feel me?

What if I'm not hearing God correctly? What if I'm wrong? What if it doesn't happen?

What if?

So many thoughts were jumbled around in my head. At the time, I hadn't told anyone; mostly because it was a little bit scary to think about, let alone speak about. Little did I know, though, that God was speaking to my cousin about the very same thing. One day while sitting on her back porch, drinking coffee (duh!) and talking life as we usually do, she out of the blue said something along the lines of, "Loren, I feel like God told me [same thing God had spoken to me], and maybe you are suppose to ask him for it." 

My thought? She did not just say that.

It wasn't until a while later that I told her that God had been telling me the very same thing. It was in that moment that I knew, without a doubt, what I was suppose to do.

*Side-Note*

This girl has been with me every step of the way. She sometimes gets a bad rep, but some people just don't understand. God knew I wouldn't be able to go through this alone, and I'm so thankful I have her to keep me grounded me in the Truth, encourage me when its tough, and pray with/for me always!

At the time, I had no idea the journey that God was about to take me on. It's been nearly four years since then and there has been so many ups and downs along the way. There's been confirmation of his Word and promise over and over, and yet discouragement like no other. It hasn't always been easy. I haven't always wanted to ask God for that specific thing. I haven't always fully trusted and believed that what he has promised me will actually happen, because the honest truth? It sometimes just seems impossible. But...

This is what I know to be true, and what I hope that anyone reading this or anyone going through the struggle of waiting on a God-Promise to be fulfilled will understand and be encouraged by...

God is always faithful. 

God is a promise-keeper. 

God is more than able to do the impossible. 

God will bless you beyond anything you can imagine. 

God loves you. 

Ask Specifically.

"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." Philippians 4:6 (NCV)

 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 (NIV) 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."

 Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

"And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."
1 John 5:15 (NIV)

"You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father."
 John 14:13 (NLT)

"In that day you will not ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy."
John 16:23-24 (NCV)

 Trust Completely. 

"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NCV)

"Jesus answered, 'You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.'”

John 13:7 (NCV)

"When everything was hopeless, Abraham [replace with your name] believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do."

Romans 4:18 (MSG)

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'”

Mark 10:27 (NIV)

"Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God."

Romans 4:20 (NLT)

"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'Have faith in God.'"

Mark 11:22 (NLT)

"I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be ruined." 

Job 42:2 (NCV)

"As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed."

Romans 10:11 (NCV)

"Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised."

Hebrews 10:23 (NCV)

"You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Luke 1:45 (NLT)

Wait Expectantly.

"Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him..."

Psalm 37:7 (HCSB)

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

“'Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.' God’s Decree. 'Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for my people'..."

Amos 9:13-14 (MSG)

"Then Joshua addressed the people: 'Sanctify yourselves. Tomorrow God will work miracle-wonders among you.'” 
Joshua 3:5 (MSG)

"Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete."

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (MSG)

"For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!" 
Isaiah 64:4 (NLT)

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

Psalm 77:11-14 (NIV)

If you're still with me, here's little something else to remember:

Even if it seems impossible, believe.

Even if His timing isn't your timing, believe.

Even if people around you are saying otherwise, believe.

Even if it doesn't look the way you thought it would, believe.

Even if you want to give up, believe.

Even if you don't understand what's happening, believe.

Even if you're hurt, believe.

Even if circumstances and difficulties arise, believe.

Even if the waiting gets tough, believe.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think!" 

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

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Little Reminders.

Ever have one of those days? You know, the kind that you start to get around for the day, put on your make-up, fix your hair, but no matter what you do it just looks bad? Today was just one of those days...
As I sat in front of the mirror, trying to get myself put together, I just kept getting increasingly aggravated with myself. Finally, I threw my hair in a pony tail and gave up.

Come on ladies, I know I'm not the only one that has been there.

But isn't God's timing for everything just perfect?

Right after aggravation struck and I gave up on the hope of feeling confidently put together, I opened my bible to where I left off in 1 Peter 3. I was encouraged by the reminder God had waiting for me in that passage:

"It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you - the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God." (verses 3-4)

God is GOOD, isn't He? His word NEVER fails!

 I am grateful that even in my stubbornness, even in my frustration, even when I view his masterpiece negatively, He is loving enough to remind me of what is most important; even in the little things.

Can I just leave you with this (and I need it too!)...
It doesn't matter what kind of hair day you are having or whether your make-up looks flawless or not, it's the beauty and condition of your heart that truly matters. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman whose heart and life reflects that of the Lord's.

"I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well." Psalm 139:14

"A beautiful woman without good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout." Proverbs 11:22

"Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised." Proverbs 31:30

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Proverbs 31 Woman

- 2010

This morning as I was reading my bible, I decided to flip through Proverbs. Proverbs is a book that I have read (on more than one occasion) and love! As I was flipping through, I just had to read chapter 31. Now some of you may know, Proverbs 31 talks about "A Wife of Noble Character", shall we take a look?

"It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies.

Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs.

She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.

She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands.

She is like a trader's ship, bringing food from far away.

She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls.

She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.

She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong.

She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night.

She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth.

She welcomes the poor and helps the needy.

She does not worry about her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.

She makes coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.

Her husband is known at the city meetings, when he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.

She makes linen clothes and sells them and provides belts to the merchants.

She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy.

She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind.

She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her, her husband also praises her,

saying, 'There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them.'

Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done."

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New Century Version)

Now of course I am not married yet, but God willing I will be someday! As I was reading that this morning, all I could think about was how I want to be that kind of wife described in this passage. Not only that kind of wife, but that kind of woman. And the cool thing?  I don't have to wait until there is a ring on my finger before I become a woman like that. I can start working towards that right now! Today.
I want to be a woman that is passionately pursing and totally in love with the Lord. I want to be a woman that is rare and different. I want to be loving, caring, gentle and kind. I want to be strong, courageous, confident and wise.
So that is what I am going to be.

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February, 2013

Can I tell ya somethin'? I love snow, and I love snow days even more! So this morning when I saw the powdery white stuff covering my yard, I was hoping for a snow day...but that didn't happen. Why yes, I was bummed. However, I bundled up and went on my way to class like a good college student.

Sigh.

As I was driving,  the beautiful scenery of the white covering caught my eyes -not good when you're driving I might add! The tree's were white, the fields were white, the roads were white, everything was covered in snow. It was gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

I couldn't help but think...

God's creation is absolutely beautiful, with or without a blanket of snow.

"God is supreme over the skies; His majesty covers the earth." Psalm 57:5

As I was praising the Lord aloud for how beautiful His creation was, I started thinking about how the scenery around me somewhat reflected a part of my own life. Ya see, I have a lot of junk in my life that frankly, I wish wasn't there. I'm not perfect. I mess up. But you know what's awesome? This verse right here...

The Creator Himself said:

" 'Come now, let us settle the matter,' Says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.' "

Isaiah 1:18

Thank you, Jesus! He removed all that imperfect junk in my life, and He gave me a clean slate. Now, do I still mess up? Well absolutely! I'm not perfect, remember? But I know that I serve a God that forgave me once and for all, purifies my heart whiter than snow. Now that's the kind of hope I like to cling to!

"Take away my sins and I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

If you're still with me, here's another thought:

I love looking at a snowy landscape. It makes me happy.

 In somewhat of the same way, it makes God happy to look at us too! He sees his children -me - in ways that are sometimes most of the time hard for me to imagine, but I am so thankful.

I'm going to leave you with these statements and some scriptures to go along with them. Don't be afraid to look these up, and then sit in awe at the love that the God of the universe has for you.

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4)

I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9)

He delights in my life. (Psalm 37:23)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
I am chosen by God (Deuteronomy 7:6)

I am greatly loved by God (Ephesians 2:4)

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