Trust and Obey For There Is No Other Way....Really?

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

Remember this song?  I do. I remember singing it often as a little girl in Sunday School.  We sang it to the point that whenever I hear it today it takes me back to that little classroom at the Brethren Church in Taos, New Mexico.  We would sit around the table and the teacher would lead us in song after simple song. Songs that reminded us how loving our God was, how we should obey our parents, the depth and width of our faith, and our life's overflowing cup since the day of our salvation.  

How easy it was back then to trust that the messages of those songs were true.  As a child we had yet to really feel the brunt of life, the disappointments and heartaches that come with living and choices.  Back then, a crisis in my life consisted of who I was going to sit with at lunch, would I get picked for dodge ball and if mom remembered to sign my homework folder that morning.  Today, I look back and hear my parents talk about hard times, loss of work, finding the means to feed the family and provide adequate clothes and shoes.  At times we had to go without, but you know what? I don't really remember that.  As a child I remember just trusting that dad and mom had it under control and that they looked regularly to God for what we needed. And you know what? God always came through. No if's, and's or butt's about it! It might not have always been in ways we expected but the truth was, He was consistently faithful.  I never saw my parents blame God or anyone else for a life that was sometimes, all together difficult.  

Today, as an adult, I have a greater appreciation for the way my parents choose to walk through those times.  Why? Because, in the last few years our family (Me, my husband and girls) have faced some extraordinarily difficult times.  Two years ago we were hit hard by the economic downturn and have since struggled to make ends meet. Some days the ends just don't meet and I wonder "Now what"?  My faith and my trust have never been more tested than this season of life.  

I used to think that "trust" in my Heavenly Father was simply a matter of faith.  And indeed, it is a matter of faith, but now I know that it's more than just that. The ability to trust that God will supply all that I need also has to be an action step in my life.  If I wait until my feelings catch up with my ability to trust...then.... I would never trust. 

There are some days when I wake so overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for our family, meeting the bills, providing food and clothes that it almost causes me to to hardly  function.  It's on those days that I have to push aside the negative thoughts and feelings and say "No, today I am trusting that God will supply what I need. I am only looking at today and not tomorrow or the next week...just today".  Now that doesn't mean that we don't have hopes or plans for the future or that we don't look to see what we are responsible for next week, but it does mean that no longer is my hope and trust in myself to get us through.  I have to throw it right back at the foot of the cross, hang on tight to my heavenly father's hand and say "Yes, father, today I choose to trust you, no matter what tomorrow looks like."  

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. " They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

If you read the book of Jeremiah you will discover that here was a prophet whose trust in his God was tested often.  In bringing the word of the Lord to the people of Israel and its kings, he was imprisoned, flogged, thrown down a cistern to be left for dead, only to be brought back up and jailed again.  Here was a man that walked daily in needing to trust his Heavenly Father for all his needs and his life. So for him to hear this word from the Lord, as he sent this letter to those exiled in Babylon, must have brought great hope and encouragement.  

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter.  Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

I have to work every day to take captive those thoughts that would seek to drag me down, to throw my day, to make me question God's ability to meet my need.  Again, it's a choice.  An action step.  This is what God's word says happens when we take those action steps.

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this,  you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Not worrying and trusting is hard to do. I know that journey well. But I find that when I do pray and hand it to God, take that action step to say "I choose to trust you today God" that He shows up and gives me peace for my worried and chaotic mind.  That is how I get through my days.  Even though the situation may not change overnight, the difference is that I have changed. And that is worth singing about!  

"Trust and Obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!"  

Really!!!

Trusting Him today,

~Victoria

Jumping on Board

This was a recent blog that I wrote for our Riverbank Congregation.  Even though the I specifically talk about the area that God has called our family to reach, I believe that this same word holds true for the many harvest fields around the world that God is preparing and that are ready for Harvest.  What are your harvest fields? Take some time and look around, pray for discernment from God and let's get to work! Blessings  ~ Victoria

Good Morning Riverbank,

This morning I found my bible reading taking me to the book of Jeremiah.  Specifically to the 30th chapter.  Here, Jeremiah is prophesying to the people of Israel hope for God's restoration of their homeland.  The people of Israel had become scattered and taken over by their enemies but Jeremiah was speaking of hope and the day when God would bring his people back and restore to them what had been lost.  

"For the time is coming when I will restore the fortunes of my people of Israel and Judah. I will bring them home to this land that I gave to their ancestors, and they will possess it and live here again.  I, the Lord has spoken." Jeremiah 30:3

As I read this passage what quickened in my heart was that, in the same way, God slowly restored Israel to Jerusalem, so does He want to restore the spiritual life here in Nelson County and to our communities.  He is bringing people back to himself and rebuilding spiritual roots in Nelson.  Many years ago, as we read in the history books of Nelson, our communities used to be strong places of worship.  There were churches in almost every community that were alive and serving the people, a hub of activity.  

However through time and devastation, the enemy has been able to get a foothold.  But no more! We believe that God wants to do a new and fresh work here in our communities.  His desire is to rebuild that which has been lost and what the enemy has stolen. But we have to decide if we are going to be a part of the "rebuilding" that God wants to do here.  Another passage comes to mind.

"The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers for His fields."  Matthew 9:37-38 
The thing that struck me about this passage were 2 things: 

1.  I am  not in charge :)  He is in charge of the harvest.  He is in charge of the results.

2.  These are "His Fields" 

Simply put, He calls us to 2 things-  To Work and To Pray.  That's all. I don't have to worry if the people will be there or not. He is simply asking me to show up, to work in the "fields" that he has prepared.  And he is asking me to pray - pray that more workers will come to help for all those he is going to send.  

Now thats exciting people!  :)  

God's moving...are you ready to jump on board?  Are you ready to work and pray? If so, he's got a job for you.  To work with the people he sends, to love them as he would, to see people set free, to bring in the harvest.  

Be blessed today - 

Working in the harvest together!

 ~Victoria