Tag: #believe

Answered Prayers

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Early yesterday morning, I had a painful catch on my side.  I couldn’t take a deep breath or move without a sharp pain. My husband, Daniel, laid his hand on my head and prayed for me.
In a matter of seconds, I felt the pain leave my body. Answers to prayers only sometimes happen instantly or noticeably. Still, we can rest assured that God hears every prayer and is always working. At times, our answered prayers don’t look like what we expect, but God knows best. If you’re like me, you probably get impatient and want to act without waiting, but that doesn’t usually end well and mostly distracts us from listening to and depending on God. 

Having someone to pray with and for me is another answered prayer, but it did not happen overnight. Trust is a big part of our faith in God, and it keeps us from forging ahead on our own. Waiting for His perfect timing is challenging, but it’s worth the wait and always has better outcomes. His way is immeasurably more vibrant and stunning than my tiny brain imagines. God always knows best. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. We can only see partly because seeing the whole picture simultaneously would be overwhelming.

Consequently, it’s vital to our well-being to allow the One who sees the bigger picture to lead us. If we allow others to lead, it’s like the blind leading the blind. A few years ago, I heard a story about a blind man who wanted to ski. He entrusted a guide to take him down the slopes. Likewise, God is our guide, and our adventures await.  Can we trust God enough to enjoy the journey, even if we can’t see where we’re going?

Ultimately, our hope is secure and anchored in Christ’s promise that we will have a more abundant, splendid paradise at the end of our journey. The troubles in this life are only temporary. But our lives – good and bad alike – will fade away.  That’s not bad news. It’s good news that we have something and Someone to look forward to and that this isn’t all there is. But it’s also important to slow down while we’re here, enjoy the sunrise, pursue a magnificent sunset, and take the time to appreciate all the things that fall in between. We’ll be closer to our Creator in these natural wonders.

The peak season of your life is now.  No matter what age you are. God has a purpose and a plan for your life. I speak from experience when I say a relationship with Christ is a lifesaver. As a late bloomer, I can attest that, with God’s help, we’re never too old to change old life-sucking habits and adopt new life-sustaining ones that make this life more enduring, meaningful, and peaceful. But we cannot do it without God’s help.

May the God of peace fill your hearts and minds with life-sustaining truths and help you believe in the power of prayer, even when we can’t see the immediate answers.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, HCSB, Emphasis added).

U-turns Allowed

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I recently saw a flock of geese in full-on V formation flying overhead. There were about twenty of them. But, instead of continuing their current path, they managed to do a complete 180 and head in the direction they had just come from; they made a U-turn. I started thinking about the leader. Did he make a mistake in which direction he was taking them? As the rest of the clan followed the leader, how would they know they were on the right path?

This reminded me of my dad. When we went on car rides as a family, we quickly realized that he panicked easily if he thought he missed his turn. The first time we saw this in action, we were headed to the farm after supper, and Mom made a plate for our neighbor, Mr. Hall, something she often did. She told Dad to stop on our way so she could drop off the plate of food.  His house was just around the curve from ours, but Dad had already forgotten. So, just as we began to pass up the driveway, Mom yelled that he missed his turn. Dad slammed on the brakes, and we were rear-ended. This is the first time I recall hearing the term whiplash after my sister Donna’s neck began to hurt.

My siblings and I were sitting in the backseat of our turquoise 1966 Chevy Impala, and with Mom in the front seat, we didn’t get the benefits of her instinctive arm that naturally came across the waists of anyone sitting in the front seat when she was driving. Mr. Hall’s supper ended up all over the inside of the car and us.

After that, Mom learned not to yell when Dad missed turns. The next time we were riding along, and he passed up our turn-off, I remember her calmly turning to him in a monotone voice, saying something like – I think we were supposed to turn there. Panic still ensued, but at least he didn’t slam on the brakes; instead, he began nervously looking for a place to make a U-turn.

As I meandered around the neighborhood, continuing my run that morning, I saw a neighbor walking their dog. When the dog saw me, it wanted to run with me, but the owner, not so much. She guided the dog back to their path with a slight leash tug.

We all go down the wrong path occasionally and make poor decisions, sometimes running off on a whim without consulting God about which direction to take. We may even panic when we realize we are on the wrong path and have made a mess of our lives and caused damage to ourselves and others.

God’s grace not only gives us the space to make a U-turn but helps us clean up the mess and offers complete restoration to heal any damage that occurred while on our hiatus from the path God intended. Thankfully, God is patient with us. We, too, need to be tethered to Christ and let the Holy Spirit guide our hearts instead of allowing our hearts to lead us. The ultimate healing is only found in a relationship with Christ. It is not too late to make a U-turn.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV, emphasis added)

Intentional Connections

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell
It’s not the back of the truck, but another fond memory on the farm with Dad. On the back: my cousin Debbie, sister Donna, and brother David (JD).

One of my fondest childhood memories is riding in the back of my dad’s truck. I remember being a lookout for a crop of tobacco I had spotted earlier that day, thinking Dad would like to see this field of tobacco. So, when he got in from work, I used my super girl skills to convince him to let me show him. The only problem was I couldn’t find it.

At the time, I was disappointed that something I thought I could connect with my dad was gone. But, looking back, I now have fond memories of riding in his truck, looking for the lustrous tobacco crop I could no longer locate. I now see that Dad took time away from resting after a long day’s work to appease my childhood whimsy.

He saw it as a time to spend with his kids.

My dad got up before dawn every day for 30+ years to drive an hour each way to work at IBM in Lexington. When he got home, he went to the farm to feed, water, and count the cows, besides whatever other chores I did not know about, such as mowing or grading the road with his tractor. And if we happened to be living at the farm (we had spent our summers there since I was nine), he still had to haul water down from our other house every evening because we didn’t have running water at the time. (We thought this was a big adventure – not seeing all the work Dad did to make it happen). I spent many days brushing my teeth with a cup of water and spitting off the side of the porch.

He wasn’t the only one who got up that early; for years, Mom got up with him to prepare a full breakfast before he left for work – at least until they changed their diet to heart-healthy oatmeal. I remember waking up many mornings to the sound of their not-so-quiet whispers in the kitchen. Perhaps the smell of homemade biscuits and gravy, sausage, and eggs awoke my senses to their breakfast chatter; either way, I see how they made time to spend a few minutes alone before we got up.

He did not have to get up that early. He could have grabbed something on the go and spent a few extra minutes in slumber, but he chose to connect with Mom during those early mornings, and she chose to get up with him and make breakfast and sip coffee from saucers in the wee hours of the morning. They found time to spend together in a five-room house full of kids. (Talk about tiny house living – we had no idea it would become popular).

It is those precious memories that aren’t soon forgotten.  I think that is the most important thing God asks of us – to spend time with our heavenly Father. All He wants is to spend time with His kids – and we are better off for taking the intentional time to connect. Sometimes, that may mean getting up a little earlier and being still before the hustle and bustle of our day begins. It is allowing His whispers to seep into our heart and mind awakening us to the sweet aroma of the bread of life that feeds our hungry souls.

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ ” (John 6:35, NLT, emphasis added).

“Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, Emphasis added).

Dose of Encouragement

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Everyone can use a dose of encouragement regardless of age or how far we are on our journey.

One morning as I approached the mailboxes on the main street leading into my neighborhood, a gentleman stopped to make a deposit.

As I ran past, he kindly said, “Great job! Keep up the good work.” 

I thanked him and gave a thumbs up. But, as most things do, this reminded me that whether it is running, another sport, or our faith walk with Christ, at the beginning of our training, or a seasoned vet, we can all use inspiration to keep on going, press on, don’t give up.

As I ventured further, I met two other women running in the opposite direction. As my route winds back around, our paths crossed again, only this time they were walking.

As if to justify themselves, one girl said, “It’s hot! We’re from Ohio.”

Oh well, that explains it all…buckeyes. Only kidding. I paid the encouragement forward. But this reminded me of my trip to Austria a while ago. Climate change can make you uncomfortable and disconnected when in unfamiliar territory. I was out of my comfort zone on that trip, so many miles away from home, unable to have my usual quiet time and space. I was trying to find my rhythm on a new route, with new people to meet and work alongside.

Before I left, God gave me a few images: a sundial and Russian nesting dolls. Strange right? It didn’t make sense until I struggled to find peace and saw these images in Vienna. In those moments, I knew God was still with me and that He knew I would need these reminders.

Another time, on a church summer camp excursion with middle school girls, I desperately needed some time away from the chaos to reconnect with God. So, every chance I got, I stole a few minutes away on the other side of the lake to reset, recharge, and refresh my spirit to tackle another night. We all need these times to give us the strength to pour into the lives of others and not get burnt out.

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength” (Is. 30:15, ESV, emphasis added).

“Encourage one another and build one another up” (I Thes. 5:11, emphasis added).

Distinctly Different

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

The platypus swam into my dreams a few years ago, leading me to research the creature. The design itself intrigues me. I decided to dig deeper into this bottom feeder and get insight into this remarkable mammal. Interestingly, according to LiveScience, their characteristics resemble that of many different species. Their bill and feet are like a duck, their tail is like a beaver, their feet, body, and fur resemble an otter, and their lizard legs sprawl out to the side of the body when they walk.

In addition, to this extravagant list, they are amphibious. When they are not using their webbed feet in the water to swim, they can retract the web exposing individual nails that allows them to run on land. They also lay eggs, one of only two mammals that do.

Although they do not have teeth and use their cheek pouches to hold food until they can mash it up and swallow it, they have sharp stingers on the heels of their rear feet to defend themselves, with a toxic venom that is quite effective when needed. They are non-life threatening but powerful enough to damage their victim significantly.

This hodgepodge creature has many features of other animals, but oddly enough, the familiar qualities make it unique and distinctly different from the rest. It can undoubtedly relate to the duck by how it uses its bill and webbed feet and the beaver by using its tail to maneuver through the water gracefully, and the otter and lizard by how it uses its feet to swim and run, awkward as it may be.

As children of God, we are given many distinctive qualities, although we can relate to one another because we are made in the image of our Creator. Each of us has gifts given especially to us. We have many of the same characteristics, and all of us, like sheep, have strayed away (Isaiah 53.6). God made us exactly how we are on purpose and saved us by His grace. We can accept everything just as it is – flaws and all. We see the blemishes through our eyes and want to make changes or compare ourselves with others. But if we could see ourselves as God sees us – through His love –we would be content with ourselves and thank God for each unique quality that makes us stand out from the rest.

Post a reminder on your mirror: God profoundly loves you as you are. No matter how we see ourselves, we can be confident in what God is doing in and through us. Obedience is key. We are protected by the armor of faith and love when we wear salvation’s confidence as our helmet (I Thes. 5:8, ESV).

Jesus Loves You Fiercely

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

When our thoughts are cloudy, our feelings and emotions have us tied in knots; we can cling to what God tells us because His Word remains faithful and steadfast, never changing and never-ending (Lamentations 3:22; Ps. 136:3, ESV). Recently, I had to remind myself of this and prayed to God to let me hear His truth – that He will always love me no matter what. I knew my emotions were telling me a different story, and even though our feelings are real, the things we tell ourselves when we are down are not to be taken to heart and allowed to fester inside us.

I can trust what God says when everything seems cloudy around me. He knows exactly what I need because He knows me and my heart.

During these times of despair or sadness, we can cling to His promises, truth, and love. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8, ESV). So, cinch on the belt of truth (Eph, 6:14) and guard against allowing your feelings to rule you and take over what we know to be true in God’s Word. “[Jesus] will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment” (Is. 11:5, emphasis mine).

Take it from me, when we are tired, emotionally down, or distressed, it is not a time to make rash decisions or take a quiz, for that matter. Turn to God instead and ask Him to help you see clearly and not lose sight of His love during this season.

Jesus said, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20, ESV, emphasis mine).

God told Moses, “I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14, ESV). He instructed him to tell Israel that “I AM has sent you.” Then in John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (emphasis mine)

With these verses in mind, I want to propose something for you to cling to that helps me put things into perspective: You are because I AM.

I encourage you to meditate on these verses and let them bring hope as you trust in the only One who sees and knows everything about you and still loves you fiercely.

Debt Free

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing to experience? I remember my dad telling a story about my grandpa being away from home – probably visiting a church since he was a preacher too. Times were hard, and their family had to charge for more groceries at the local store than they liked. When he got home, my grandma asked him to go to the store. Knowing they owed a lot already, he dreaded going. But when he got there, with his head down, and asked for more credit, saying he knew he owed so much already, the grocer informed him that the debt had been paid while he was away. Grandma had found a way to pay it off. His dread turned into joy.

Jesus tells his disciples a parable about the good Samaritan who had compassion for a man who was robbed and beaten on the side of the road. He bound up his wounds and took him to an inn where he cared for him. When he had to leave, he gave the innkeeper enough money to care for him and said he would check when he came back to see if he owed any more (Luke 10:34-35, ESV). He did not do this expecting to be paid back; he did it out of love and compassion.

Jesus came to free us from sin’s bondage because we could not free ourselves. He canceled our debt by nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14, ESV). God’s justice demanded an answer for sin, but His love supplied the answer in His Son so that our dread could turn into joy.

The Old Testament covenants had conditions attached. They were foreshadowing the coming of Christ, but Jesus was a new and better covenant because He is a covenant of grace instead of works. God made an irrevocable promise for salvation (Rom. 11:29), fulfilled in Christ. Jesus elevates Himself and the message of the kingdom to be greater than, and the fulfillment of, the three most important institutions in Israel – priest, prophet, and king, when He shows how Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a great fish as a foreshadowing of Himself spending three days in the earth (Matt. 12: 38-42; Luke 11:29-32, ESV).

Jonah was grateful for his salvation but wanted to keep the prophetic message private from the people of Nineveh. He knew God’s character and that if they repented, God would change His mind about destroying them. He finally shared the message with the people by shouting to the crowds when he entered the city – “Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4, ESV, emphasis mine). The people understood what that meant. He used the same verb as when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.19:21-25, ESV).

The story of Jonah shows us how determined God is to get His message to the nations and the need for repentance from sin. It also shows us God’s character and assures us that He “will relent when people repent” (Jonah 3:9, ESV Study Bible notes).

In reading the OT, sometimes it is difficult to understand all the laws, restrictions, and sacrifices God put in place. But it took a lot of sacrifices and rules to do what Jesus Christ did on the cross—nothing we can do ourselves covers that many sins. Our sin was so great that it required Someone much greater to appease the wrath of God. The burdens are lifted, and the laws of Moses are no longer needed because of Jesus Christ!

The gates of hell will not prevail against His Church (Matt. 16:18, ESV). Jesus Christ defeated death. He has risen (Matt. 28:6, ESV)! The love inside us because of Jesus can overflow into the lives of others. We are free because of Christ. He erased our debt. Let us not keep that message to ourselves like Jonah, unwilling to share it with anyone we believe doesn’t deserve to hear it. If you have the hope of Christ in your heart, you were still sinners when God showed His love for you (Rom. 5:8, ESV).

When Jesus was persecuted for dining with the tax collectors and sinners, He told them that those who are well don’t need a doctor; sick people do (Matt. 9:12-13). I want everyone to experience this freedom so they, too, can feel the joy it brings. But that does not mean everything goes and our sins are acceptable before God. We are still called to repentance and obedience as we live for God as new creations (2 Cor. 5:17-21, ESV).

Birds Sing in the Dark

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

You may (or may not) have noticed that I didn’t post last week. I think God is teaching me how to wait on Him and trust His perfect timing. Have you experienced a season of waiting? Like me, you may find it difficult. When we receive a glimpse from God, we are ready to forge ahead, but most of the time, we are to wait on God. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers notably said that with every vision comes darkness. We are not given the complete view and results – only one small glimpse. When we are in the dark, we must wait for God to speak and show us the right time to move.

Any pressure to perform or move forward is of myself, not God. His yoke is easy, and His burden light (Matt. 11:30, ESV). Chambers also said that when our spirit is dejected, or in my words, disappointed and depressed, it is always of our own doing because we have tried to get ahead of God. Ouch! That stings, but only because it holds so much truth. There is freedom (not bondage) where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Cor. 3:17, ESV).

We find Jesus speaking to His disciples, teaching them to ask, seek, and knock in Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:5-8. Luke even says those who ask will receive, those who seek will find, and those who knock it will be opened. But before we jump on board, let’s dive deeper to see how to apply this correctly. The ESV Study Bible notes that ASK or PRAY: means coming to God humbly and aware of our needs; SEEK: hitches our prayers with responsible actions in pursuing God’s will, not our own; and KNOCK: is our perseverance. Don’t give up just because God hasn’t answered yet. Our persistence comes with the confidence that the Father will provide whatever His gracious and sovereign will is because He knows what is best for us.

But I want to add one more….TRUST. That’s a big one. After we ask, seek God’s will, and knock repeatedly, we must trust God with the outcome and not worry or be disappointed. But waiting in the dark, depending on God’s timing and answer, will be better than we can imagine when it does come.

Waiting is hard, especially when we are in the dark about what God is doing or not doing. But God…is a loving Father who gives GOOD gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11, ESV).

Even birds sing in the dark.

We can still praise God in our hearts – even in the dark and the seasons of waiting. I think God’s love language must be quality time – He loves spending time with His kids. Maybe the seasons of waiting are to draw us closer to Him, allowing the Holy Spirit to comfort us under the shelter of the Most High (Ps. 91:1). Under His wing’s shadow, there is no darkness that His light cannot penetrate.

Do you hear His call? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, emphasis mine).

Keep Fighting

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Keep fighting…but know you are not alone in the fight. Do you keep things that are bothering you to yourself? I find myself doing that sometimes. Even though I know, I have friends and family who will pray for me and with me.

We all go through low times or a season of feeling off; thankfully, they are few and far between. Sometimes we must go through the valley to get to the next, and sometimes higher, mountaintop. There are also times when the enemy will try to keep us down. He does not want us to share our concerns with others because it makes his job easier.

On the run recently, on a morning, the wind was particularly gusty; at one point, in a straight stretch, it felt as if someone had their hand on my forehead holding me back, almost like I was running in place, not making any progress. It can feel the same way when the enemy is interfering – I had another group leader tell me recently that she felt like someone had both hands on her shoulders, weighing her down. Have you ever felt like that?

In these times, we must share our burdens and pray, using the spiritual weapons God gives us. (Putting on the whole armor of God and always praying in the spirit (Eph. 6:11-18, ESV). The enemy must flee by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’s name. Jesus is already a victor over death, the grave, and the devil. We can rely on His strength when we are weak.

When I finally blurted out what was troubling me to a trusted friend, the load was lighter because I was no longer carrying it alone. Saying it aloud makes it lose its power and no longer fester inside us. We are not supposed to go it alone. A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Eccl. 4:12, ESV).

This reminded me of the homeplace where I grew up –a bank in our front yard was covered in deep purple irises. When I got older and moved next door, I wanted to dig up a few for my yard, so I tried to divide the many years’ worth of entangled roots to separate them. Even though iris roots are not deeply rooted and are sometimes ‘exposed,’ they intertwine to create a dense mat. Let’s say I didn’t get as many as I had planned. On the other hand, sunflowers can go ten feet deep and branch out. Both grow best in full sun.

We, too, grow best in the full light of the Son. When we feel exposed, it is a time to join forces with others, encourage and help carry one another’s burdens (Heb. 10: 23-25; I Thes. 5:11; James 5:16, ESV). We can stand firm on the promises of God. Jesus promises to always be with us (Matt. 28:20, ESV). May we be deeply rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17, ESV) as we fight the good fight together (I Tim. 6:12, ESV).

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Ps. 28:7, emphasis mine).

Balancing Act

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

I didn’t find my voice until I was 47. It was a decisive moment and the first time I stood up for myself as God whispered in my heart that I did not have to allow what was happening. This was preempted by an accident that I call my wake-up call.

I whispered a lot growing up, even to my mom when my siblings were around. This one little thing about me drove my brother Butch crazy. I can look back and see how shy I was most of my life. Sitting in the back of the room, just listening to everyone else, trying not to be noticed or called on, became my main goal in most group settings.

I got good at listening, but I was too preoccupied with my fear of being called on to pay close enough attention to what was being said most days. Then comes that moment, you know, when you realize if they called on you, would you even know what they were talking about? That is when I started listening closer, just in case.

In God’s divine sense of humor, He began preparing me for public speaking through my jobs. First, when I had to give presentations or stand up and tell something about myself in a networking group. Then, through my job as a newspaper reporter and photographer. I had to attend meetings, conduct interviews and ask questions, even when I was just the photographer. My mom used to say she wished she would be a fly on the wall to hear me speak.

Today, I use my voice to pray for others, praise God in all circumstances, and advocate for other women who need hope and healing. On occasion, I even speak to groups. Do I still get nervous? Yes. But I don’t allow that to stop me anymore. My relationship with God makes all the difference. I rely on the Holy Spirit to help me and give me the words and courage to step out in faith.

Now, I have been working on being a better listener. Listening is a form of love. I want to listen to understand, not just respond. Now that I have found my voice, I find it harder not to speak too quickly. I know my tongue is something that I not only use for good things but can also be harmful if I am not careful and take time to pause before allowing my words to spew.

Listening is a big part of our conversations with God. Sometimes I talk too much and must remind myself to stop and give God a chance to speak.

“Do you know why we only have one mouth and two ears? Because we are supposed to listen twice as much as we talk.” This is a quote attributed to Epictetus, a Greek philosopher.

James also has a few things to say about speaking less. Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19, NLT). I, for one, have said many things I wish I could take back. Whispering, “help me, Holy Spirit,” aids me in this endeavor.

James also says the tongue is like a rudder, a bit, and a spark. It may be one of the smallest organs in the body, but like the rudder makes a huge ship turn, a bit directs a horse, and a tiny spark can set a forest on fire, the tongue is more than capable of causing a lot of damage. It has similar control over everything a person is and does (ESV Study Bible). He compares someone who speaks both blessings and curses to a tree yielding two different kinds of fruit (v 9). Just as no tree produces two types of fruit, a true believer would not give blessings to God and curses toward others made in His image (ESV Study Bible).

The book of Proverbs also has much to say about how words are used. I recently found four categories for how the tongue is used in Proverbs in the Chronological Life Application Study Bible: The caring tongue, the controlled tongue, the conniving tongue, and the careless tongue. What we say and how we say it sometimes affects people more than other actions.

Both listening and speaking are balancing acts that God can help us master.

“in quietness and trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15, ESV, emphasis mine).