GOODBYE TO RECHARGE WEDNESDAY

Pressing Through God’s Silence

Have you ever spent a long time praying, bringing your praise, gratitude and requests to God, and, at the end of your prayer, the silence that followed felt uncomfortable, as if no one was listening?

Or, as I read in the introduction of Addison Bevere’s new book, “Words with God,” prayer may feel more like yelling within a canyon. You shout, and sound waves skip across the canyon’s walls and return to you. You hear only your voice. Your thoughts. Your conclusions.

Sometimes, we may feel like that voice we hear is God’s, but we are unsure. Was it my own desires reverberating through the walls? Was it logic? Or, worse yet, was it the accuser, pointing his ugly finger, counting my inadequacies against me?

Prayer, as taught throughout Scriptures, is hardly a monologue.

From Genesis to Revelation, we find passages that show us prayer as a two-way conversation, a means to discover and move God’s heart and sometimes change our circumstances.

Yet, many spend a lifetime (or a season) when prayer feels more like yelling from the edge of a great canyon.

Why is it that prayer often feels ethereal, unattainable? Why is something supposed to be the very channel of communication with God and the door to real transformation so hard to attain?

Bevere’s book offers a perspective that is worth noting.

He believes that prayer has lost its robustness because the world has been infected by a religiosity that tells us that God will only engage with us at certain times if we do things “perfectly.”

But this is not the message of the Father. That is the message of legalism.

Yes, there is no question that confession and repentance are crucial elements of prayer. We must come to our holy God humbly, honestly, and repentant of our sins.

But we confess not because God doesn’t know what we have done. He is, after all, the all-knowing God. Rather, confession is our weapon against the accuser, for only when we surrender our sins and struggles to God can we hear him clearly and receive his guidance.

God also invites us to communicate with Him beyond our “quiet time.” In his first letter to the Thessalonian church, the apostle Paul challenged them to make prayer a lifestyle, a constant conversation with the Father: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; (…).”

I learned that concept years ago when my children were small.

With our hectic schedules, juggling a job, Atlanta traffic, and two growing children, my “quiet time” in the mornings often felt hurried and disconnected. Then, I started taking my “prayer closet” wherever I went.

I was the crazy lady lifting my hand in worship when traffic stopped on I-75. I became “that woman” talking to herself in the breakroom. And while preparing dinner, many nights, my girls would come into the kitchen and catch me talking to Jesus out loud.

I miss those days. Days when prayer became more than a ritual. Days when praying became as natural as breathing, and I learned for the first time what it meant to hear God speak in silence because even when I did not hear Him at all, His presence was enough.

My children grew up, and today I don’t have little feet following me around, preventing me from spending a long time in prayer. And I relish those moments, don’t get me wrong. They are indeed critical.

But I have to say that I am so grateful to have found out years ago that God wants to meet me in the stillness of my prayer room, just as much as He wants to connect with me in the kitchen or in traffic.

Words with God

Words with God become easy when we commit to making prayer a lifestyle and become comfortable with the silence that precedes the moments when God’s voice becomes loud and His will clear.

Words with God become easy when we commit to making prayer a lifestyle and become comfortable with the silence that precedes the moments when God’s voice becomes loud and His will clear.
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Only then can we truly experience the exciting nuances of a vibrant instead of boring relationship and a real and transformative connection with the father, who truly longs to have words with us.

This article was originally published in my column for The Atlanta Journal-Constittuion on Saturday, June 17, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website

Purchase Bevere’s book here: Words with God.

CLICK to Watch or listen to the interview: GOD-SIZED STORIES ~ Addison Bevere

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these books anyways, and you will too!

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JUST TWO MORE WEEKS of Recharge Wednesday LINKUP. Visit the page to read the news about the future blog posts, share your blog and link with us! This week, my column with @addisonBevere about his book #WordswithGod
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The post PRESSING THROUGH GOD’S “SILENCE” appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

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We are in the process of rebranding Soaring with Him Ministries and all Patricia Holbrook’s blog posts, columns and podcasts will start being posted on her new website going forward. The Soaring with Him website will serve solely to host the ministry’s outreach programs and conference.

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“Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

It was the miracles of miracles.  

The first mass miracle took place in Decapolis, where between ten to fifteen thousand people were fed with two only fish and five loaves of bread.

I can only imagine the excitement as the multitudes watched the fish and bread multiply before their eyes. Yahweh Jireh, their Provider, fed the hungry in an unprecedented display of His glorious provision to the masses.

The disciples’ hearts must have overflowed with joy… and Pride.

After all, they were His selected men. The ones who were chosen to walk alongside the Christ.

As we read the text, it’s interesting to realize that, instead of allowing them to remain with the crowd a little longer, Jesus immediately “made” His disciples get into the boat, cross the sea and go to the other side ahead of Him, while He dismissed the crowd (v. 22).

I believe Jesus knew their hearts were swelling with pride for being part of Messiah’s inner circle. They needed to withdraw, get away from the accolades of men and the material substance of the miracle, regroup, and realize that He had come to give them much more than just daily bread.

He knew their faith needed more testing and they were about to get it.

Success and popularity have the power to excite us and make us start hoping for great things. The problem is that, though we hardly ever realize it, our hopes for spiritual victories too often include hopes for our own advancement. Therefore, after a season of miracles and supernatural blessings, God often pulls us out of the hype and excitement and sends us on to the next journey of testing, where we will realize that our faith must grow in the same proportion as our humility and dependence upon God and God alone.

After a season of miracles and supernatural blessings, God often pulls us out of the hype and excitement and sends us on to the next journey of testing, where we will realize that our faith must grow in the same proportion as our…
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It’s true – We see the bread before our eyes, and our faith grows within us. After all, we can touch it, taste it, feel it. The provision and deliverance are real. We can boldly shout to the world: He provides! He heals! He reigns!

But then, just as He did to the disciples, He takes us out of the material and sends us into the sea of the Unknown. In the dark hour, storms rise, and our boat tosses about.

Fear rises within us… And we forget.

The eyes which have seen the miracle are suddenly blinded by the darkness around.

The hands which touched Provision become restless.

The tongue which proclaimed the miracle can’t even pray.

We watch the winds and the waves raging at us, and we forget the grand miracle we just witnessed ashore.

In our distress, we see a ‘Ghost’ walking on the water, and we don’t even realize that it is He.

The One who just broke the bread and multiplied the fish… walks towards our situation and we don’t identify Him. The one who heard our heart’s cry… comes to our rescue in the night and we can’t recognize Him past the storm.

The One who just broke the bread and multiplied the fish… walks towards our situation and we don’t identify Him. The one who heard our heart’s cry… comes to our rescue in the night and we can’t recognize Him past the storm.
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Oh, how my heart understands Peter as he realizes it is Jesus who has come to their rescue.

How much I understand his reason to say, “Tell me to come to you on the water!”

He knows Jesus is his safety. He’s eager to believe. He thinks his faith to be strong. He trusts his heart not to wave.

So do we, Peter. So do we.

And yet, as our eyes veer from the Savior’s face and focus on the raging sea, our faith is tested once again; we forget the bread and the fish. The storm reveals our weakness…

And we sink.

And yet, as our eyes veer from the Savior’s face and focus on the raging sea, our faith tested once again; we forget the bread and the fish. The storm reveals our weakness… And we sink.
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Oh, Lord, my God, how I truly understand, that it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve watched you act, our feeble hearts so often betray what we know:

That even when You seem to have left us alone, You’re always there…

That all we have to do is call Your name… “LORD! Save me”

And hear You say:

“Take courage! It is I.

Don’t be afraid.

You can walk on water.

You can face the storm.

Because it is My omnipotent hand that calls you out of a life of little faith, to one that watches Me deliver, again and again.

Don’t trust your heart, child.

Just trust My hand.

I’ll pull you out of the icy, stormy waters.

And make them solid ground.

Because wherever I stand… you cannot sink.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” Isaiah 43:2

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LINKUP is open! This week – an encouragement to those who feel the waters of trials taking over their lives. If Jesus is standing near, you are safe! Join us and share your blog!
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The post Wherever Jesus Stands, You Cannot Sink {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Hi, everyone!

Thanks for stopping by to read my blogs!

My blog posts and columns have been hosted on the Soaring with Him website for 12 years, but, after months of preparation, I am very excited to announce that we are launching my new website – Patriciaholbrook.com. The new website will host my writing ministry, courses and products, blog, podcast and ministry consulting services going forward.

Going forward, if you enjoy my writing, please subscribe to receive my blogs on this new website because as of this week, my blogs will not be hosted on the Soaring with Him website anymore.

We will continue to use the Soaring with Him blog to host blogs about our ministry programs and other ministry-related information.

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Go ahead and subscribe at https://patriciaholbrook.com/, and don’t miss any of my blogs, columns and podcasts!

Thank you for being a faithful reader!

With blessings,

Patricia

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A couple rushes to the altar after a short-term courtship. A spouse gives in to lust and commits adultery. A wife spouts off insults against her husband. A mother lashes out at her children with no regard for the damage thoughtless words will cause.

Impulsivity is perhaps one of the most primal instincts known to men, and most everyone is guilty of acting impulsively at least once in their lifetime. A common mark of youth, lack of self-control and restraint often bears consequences that can irreparably impact a young person’s future.

Unfortunately, many individuals never outgrow this trait, struggling with self-control throughout their adult life. This type of behavior is known in psychology as “dysfunctional impulsivity,” and the name translates it perfectly. People who constantly act on impulse come across as out of control, erratic, unstable, and angry, often allowing desires, fear or anger to steer them down a path of destruction and isolation.

The offspring of impulsivity are usually regret and loss. #rechargewednesday
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For certain people, impulsive acts are just that: actions preceded by no regard for consequence. For others, however, impulsivity has broader roots, and their actions are a consequence of deep-set fear, insecurities or jealousy.

Saul’s Jealousy

In my recent study of the book of Psalms, I came across a number of songs written by David when hiding from King Saul, who sought to kill the young man when feeling threatened by his growing popularity among the Jews. As we read the parallel passages in the book of 1 Samuel, we find Saul’s insecurities growing at the same rate as David’s accomplishments. When David entered Jerusalem after slaying Goliath and ending Israel’s war against the Philistines, women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with dancing and singing. While dancing, they sang a song that spurred Saul into a jealous fit: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Samuel 18)

Saul’s proud smile disappeared. The song infuriated him. His anger bore a new giant within his heart, a threat mightier than the 9-foot slain Philistine: burning jealousy.
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The Hebrew word used in this passage for the kind of anger Saul experienced is revealing. It is “charah,” which, according to the Hebrew Lexicon, means “to burn, be kindled, be incensed, glow with anger, grow indignant; to act zealously.” Charah is not just any type of anger. Its deeper meaning conveys the fire of anger that burns right after it is ignited. In other words, it conveys the type of anger followed by an impulsive response. Charah portrays Saul exploding with anger –a reaction before any sense of self-control or restraint could be processed.

I understand King Saul too well.

When I was younger, fear and insecurity brought about many impulsive actions and decisions. As I’ve grown older, however, self-awareness and God’s wisdom in Scriptures have helped me strike the right balance between not acting at all and acting impulsively, repeatedly.

But how can we master our impulses? I don’t believe we can do it on our own. We can start by asking God to reveal what triggers our responses and help us heal. We must also seek to know ourselves better, thus developing awareness of what generates our anger, lust, fear, or pride and deliberately dealing with it. That means we turn from whatever tempts us or seek to find our heart’s motives behind our anger.

I have also learned to take self-imposed time-outs… and pray before acting. When something or someone angers me, I silence, sometimes leave the room, and postpone the discussion. I then ask God for his wisdom and grace. It’s not that I never say anything in anger anymore; however, thankfully, moderation and self-control have become more prevalent than impulsive, regretful words or actions.

Saul had been chosen by God to be king, but we will never know the greatness destined for his reign because of bad decisions and reckless responses resulting from pride, insecurity, and fear.

Instead of a beacon of light to follow, Israel’s first king bore a series of character flaws to be avoided.

May it be a lesson for us all, lest we allow our passions, fear and pride to become the very instruments that forge our shackles … and ruin our future.

LINKUP PARTY opens on May 10 at 6 am!

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LINKUP is open! This week, @patholbrook shares a strong message about the dangers of allowing impulsiveness, fear and pride to take over our decision-making. Joins us and share your blog!
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The post When Impulsiveness Generates Regret & Loss {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

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This interview is also available on Patricia’s YouTube channel: Click HERE.

My guest today is the president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers Myers. Dr. Myers has become one of America’s most respected youth development and apologetics authorities.

In his new book, Truth Changes Everything, Dr. Myers challenges the idea that all hope to find Truth is lost in our culture. The book is filled with fascinating stories about Jesus’ followers who lived for truth and transformed the world in times of crisis.

Don’t miss this challenging conversation and read the column below – Will you stand for Truth (Capital “T”)?

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Column}

“What might a person write if they knew it might be the last thing they could say this side of eternity?”

That was the question in Dr. Jeff Myers’ mind during a recent battle with an aggressive type of cancer. While going through the harsh treatment and its devastating effects, Myers battled the natural hopelessness and despair that only those who have gone through such valleys can fully understand.

During that time, Myers could do little except read and write. To keep his heart grounded and nurture his faith, he studied the stories of brave heroes in the Old Testament who persevered through trials and delayed promises, as well as the stories of men and women of the Christian faith who rose to change the world during some of history’s darkest moments.

The result of his findings during that pivotal point in Myers’ life is his new book, “Truth Changes Everything – How People of Faith Can Transform the World in Times of Crisis.”

Myers is president of Summit Ministries, a renowned authority in apologetics, and a prolific author of 14 books, some of which were used as Bible curriculum at my children’s high school.

An eye-opening research

While writing his new book, Myers came across research by Dr. George Barna about millennials that shed light on the spiritual/religious makeup of this generation of growing influence, their social-economic priorities and mental health, among other topics.

Myers writes, “Seventy-five percent of young adults say they are unsure of their purpose in life. Nearly half are counted as having one or more types of mental illness (such as anxiety or depression). Fully half of young adults say that there is ‘no absolute value associated with human life.”

What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism – Don't miss this great book by Dr. Jeff Myers @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci #truthchangeseverything #truth
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Myers proposes that these issues are the tip of the iceberg, the real foundation being the loss of absolute Truth (capital “T”).

A different poll from Summit Ministries/McLaughlin and Associates supports the claim. According to this poll, 55% of young American voters between 18-29 believe that there is no absolute truth; rather, “it is up to each individual to define their own truth.”

The results also expose that many American voters embrace moral relativism – 40% of the polled individuals believe “each person determines their own version of truth.”

Quid est veritas?

In the 18th chapter of the Gospel of John, we find Jesus before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judah. He had been arrested and taken to Caiaphas, Israel’s High Priest, who, seeking the approval of Rome to crucify Jesus, deferred the questioning to Rome’s high official.

Pilate questioned Jesus, who said: “(…) the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the Truth. Everyone on the side of Truth listens to me.”

Pilate quickly ended his conversation with Jesus with the infamous words “Qui est Veritas?” – What is truth?

Jesus did not reply, perhaps because, according to Scriptures, Pilate “went out again” before giving Him a chance to.

But Jesus answered Pilate’s question numerous times throughout His time on earth. As He did in Gethsemane when he asked the Father to protect His disciples: “Sanctify them by the Truth; Your word is Truth.”

“The” Truth

As we dig into the original New Testament Greek text, we can translate Jesus’ prayer as follows: Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth.

Lord, consecrate (set apart) my followers by the knowledge of Your Word – because Your Word (Your principles, teachings, guidance) is the Truth. @drjeffmyers @summitmn @ajc @MatthewFaraci truthchangeseverything #truth
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This (absolute) truth has guided believers throughout the centuries to change society during times of great darkness and despair. This truth has speared believers to live out their faith by following Christ’s example of righteousness and unconditional love.

It’s not a popular belief, and I certainly respect differing points of view. Still, as I think about the mental and emotional state of our young adults and teenagers as presented by numerous recent research data and polls, it seems like if we ever needed this Truth to guide us; we need it now.

For more about Myers and his new book, visit www.summit.org/. Listen to Patricia’s interview with Myers in God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook on YouTube and via Podcast.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post What Is Truth? The Rise of Relativism {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

If you are viewing this post in your email, click HERE to access the podcast.

This interview is also available on Patricia’s YouTube channel: Click HERE.

Despite spending more per person on healthcare than any other country in the world, two-out-of-three American adults are overweight, obese and/or suffer from a chronic disease.

According to Mayo Clinic, 70 percent of all Americans are on at least one prescription drug, and more than half are taking four or more prescriptions.

In this week’s episode, I talk to a husband and wife duo with a beautiful story of redemption and renewed purpose after addiction, divorce and brokenness. 

Robby and Mia Graham were both delivered from addiction through their relationship with Jesus. They met and fell in love while in AA.

A Second Chance

After miraculously surviving a heart attack at 58, Robby was able to reverse his heart disease by eating a plant-based diet. After this revelation, which healed his body, and with leading from the Holy Spirit, he and Mia opened Revelations Cafe – a faith-based, plant-based café in their hometown of Tampa – with the goal of helping people find healing to their bodies and spirits.

Soon, doctors were even prescribing the Café’s meal plans as a means to lower their patients’ cholesterol levels.

Their remarkable story of healing, faith, and food is shared in a new documentary, Revelations Café: Food for the Soul – available now.

In our interview, they shared their incredible journey from brokenness to a purpose-filled life that will certainly inspire you.

I would appreciate it if you left a review to help my rankings and share it on Social Media.

Thanks for listening!

The post Addiction Recovery, Redemption – Revelations Cafe Documentary appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

I glanced down at my then-10-year-old’s church notebook and smiled. There were a couple of small pictures in the margins, but unlike many other church notebooks of children her age, the page was full of notes.

She copied them fiercely from the television screens above the row where we sat for many years in the back area of First Baptist Atlanta’s sanctuary, reserved for choir members. Our baby girl copied big sister, writing and doodling in her notebook, as a children’s Bible sat on her lap.

Their eyes were glued on the screen as our pastor spoke in his gentle, deep voice, conviction and love for the gospel piercing through each Sunday message.

This was the beginning of each week in our household for 20 years.

Dr. Charles F. Stanley, the celebrated author of more than 70 books and pastor who counseled and prayed with presidents and dignitaries worldwide, was “Dr. Stanley” to us — our family’s beloved pastor and spiritual mentor.

Dr. Charles F. Stanley, the celebrated author of more than 70 books and pastor who counseled and prayed with presidents and dignitaries worldwide, was “Dr. Stanley” to us — our family’s beloved pastor and spiritual mentor. @AJC…
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A mix of joy and sorrow filled the airwaves and social media early Tuesday morning, April 18, as the news of Stanley’s passing came out. As I read through the countless articles and posts on social media, I thought about the impact of one simple man’s obedience to God’s calling and how it shaped the lives and eternity of millions of people around the globe.

By all accounts, Charles F. Stanley was a success story. He grew up in Dry-Fork, Virginia, during the Great Depression and experienced poverty during his childhood and teenage years. His mom, “Becca,” raised him by herself after his father’s passing when Stanley was a baby. From humble beginnings, he built a ministry that expanded to countries all over the world; his messages were translated into over 127 languages. His is indeed a God-sized story.

His sermons often contained stories from childhood and adolescence, when his mother’s simple faith shaped his understanding of God and his word. But it wasn’t until Stanley was 17 that God’s calling became evident, and a visit to his grandfather changed the course of his life.

I do not know how often I heard the story from the pulpit, but it never grew old:

Stanley had felt God’s calling to become a pastor and decided to visit his grandfather, who was a preacher himself. Stanley felt inadequate, and the thought of carrying out the calling to preach the gospel was daunting.

He recalled his granddad’s words that shaped one of his 30 life principles based on scriptures that he lived by and preached for decades:

“Charles, if God tells you to put your head through that brick wall, you run for it. It is his responsibility to open a hole.”

“Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.” This principle, born from this conversation with his grandfather, shaped Stanley’s life and became one of the cornerstones of his life-long commitment to following God’s ways, no matter the cost. That is one of 30 life principles, beautifully weaved amidst biblical accounts in Charles Stanley’s Life Application Bible.

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. ~ Dr. Charles F. Stanley @ajc @intouchmin #CharlesStanley
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Following the practical teachings based on these biblical principles gave me guidance and courage to start my ministry. Thanks to the truths preached every Sunday from Stanley’s pulpit, my husband and I found the strength to press on through life’s challenging valleys. Through the principles taught by this man of God, we found the guidance to raise our girls.

His Impact

“Dr. Stanley’s” impact was evident as my husband and I traveled down I-75 in the back of our 20-year-old’s car on Easter morning, as she and her sister took us to visit Passion City, their church. They shared about growing up and their gratitude for the home we built.

During worship, they stood beside us, hands lifted in praise as they sang. As Pastor Louis Giglio delivered the sermon, I looked down to see the same scene from years ago:

Notebooks filled with notes, highlighted and well-worn Bibles, and eyes glued to the screen, where a man whose ministry was also highly influenced by Stanley’s teachings delivered a message filled with the uncompromised truth of God’s Word.

Our world has indeed lost one of the modern-day giants of faith. But his influence, like ripples from a pebble thrown in a lake, will undoubtedly live on.

Thank you, dear pastor. Well done.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website

LINKUP PARTY opens on April 26 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. This week, I share my column for the @AJC, where I talked about the eternal impact of Dr. Charles Stanley on my family. This story is undoubtedly repeated in the lives of countless people throughout the world. Join us…
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The post  The Impact of Charles Stanley’s Ministry on my Family ~ LINKUP ~ {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

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This interview is also available on Patricia’s YouTube channel: Click HERE.

Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. She is an opinion contributor to The Hill, a RealClearPolitics contributor and a weekly Townhall.com columnist, and also the executive director of SignFromGod.org, a ministry dedicated to Shroud of Turin education. 

She is a Messianic Jew, and since I am in the process of researching and finding out more details about my Jewish heritage, this conversation was very personal to me, especially since we are both columnists for secular publications.

Myra launched her weekly Bible studies on Townhall.com in February 2020; the easy-to-grasp lessons became popular with readers, who encouraged her to compile the studies into a book.

Her first book, Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible, was published in September 2021 and her second book, Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible – Part 2, was released in 2022.

Unique Perspective

Myra writes from a unique perspective since her faith journey has encompassed Messianic Judaism, mainline Protestantism, evangelical Christianity, and Catholicism. She intentionally gears the lessons toward those, who, like herself, came of age without knowledge of Scripture and never considered reading the Bible. 

Find her books on Amazon: HERE

Enjoy the interview!

Interview with Messianic Jew & Columnist – Myra Kahn Adams – check it out!
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The post Interview with Messianic Jew & Columnist – Myra Kahn Adams appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

From the rearview mirror, I saw my then-9-year-old praying again. After mouthing “Amen,” she picked up my phone and dialed her best friend’s number. After the initial greeting, she lit up:

“OK, so I received my letter from the camp and have not opened it yet. Go get yours. As we decided, let’s open them together.”

“Please let me be in the same club, please let me be in the same club,” I heard my baby girl whisper.

She opened the letter and screamed: “Oh my goodness! I made it; I made it! I’m gonna cry!!”

I could hear the squealing on the other side of the line as her friend could not believe the news.

It’s no wonder they were surprised.

Thousands of kids register for this sought-after summer camp every year. After registration, campers are randomly assigned to one of four different clubs. Once placed in a club, children stay in the same house together and do most of the activities within the group. Naturally, our daughter wanted to stay in the same club as her best friend.

We received instructions not to request any particular club for our child, and we knew the likelihood of the girls staying in the same group was small. Therefore, for several weeks, the two girls agreed to pray that God would place them together. And so, he did.

After the conversation ended and my daughter returned my phone, I said:

“Well, it looks like you need to say a prayer of thanks, baby.”

She smiled: “I already have, Mom. What are the odds that we would be in the same club? God answered our prayers, no doubt!”

I knew this was an optimal opportunity to teach my child an important lesson on prayer:

“I believe God is showing you that there is no silly or small request that his children can ever make,” I told her. “As long as we obey and love Him, He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. Nothing is too big or too small to ask.”

God delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. Nothing is too big or too small to ask. @AJC #faith #rechargewednesday #linkup
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My daughter’s faith experience reminded me of a passage of Scriptures I read recently: The odd story of the floating ax head. We find the account in the sixth chapter of 2 Kings.

The prophet Elisha had taken a group of Israel’s prophets to the Jordan River, where they started to build a place to meet. During the construction, one of the prophets accidentally plunged an ax into the water. The tool was borrowed and valuable; therefore, the prophet became distressed by the incident.

When Elisha realized his friend’s anguish, he was moved and performed a simple miracle to help him: He cut a stick, threw it in the water, and made the iron float so his friend could retrieve it.

We find the account oddly placed as a standalone story between two great miracles performed by the prophet Elisha: Naaman’s healing and Israel’s miraculous victory over the Arameans. As one reads the story, it may seem strange that God would place such as minor incident between a couple of outstanding accounts.

But I believe it is not without reason.

The ax story is strategically positioned between two exceptional miracles as a reminder that the God who does the extraordinary also cares about the tiniest details in his children’s lives.

The God who does the extraordinary also cares about the tiniest details in his children’s lives. #faith #rechargewednesday #linkup
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Indeed, the One who has the power to raise Jesus from the dead also cares about our seemingly insignificant desires or concerns.

This Easter may find you celebrating the magnitude of an empty tomb with grave concerns that plague your heart. But to some, there may be a small desire that remains unfulfilled or an issue that you think is too small to bring before Heaven’s throne.

Remember, God does not see our problems or desires that way. He cares for details as small as a young girl’s summer camp club assignment as He does for the serious issues we face and the valleys we must cross.

Like in Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, as we trust God with our seemingly insignificant prayers, we grow the faith to believe Him for the power displayed in the empty tomb.

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LINKUP is open! My Easter post is a reminder that as we trust God with our seemingly insignificant prayers, we grow the faith to believe Him for the power displayed in the empty tomb. Join us?
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The post No Request Is Insignificant to God {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution & LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Niccolò Paganini was a virtuoso violinist and composer who lived in Europe in the early 1800s and was thought to be the greatest violinist of all time. His technique while playing was unparalleled. His compositions, unique and of vanguard style. His playing of gentle passages was so beautiful that his audiences often burst into tears, and yet, he would perform some pieces with such vigor and velocity that one listener at a concert in Vienna became half-crazed and declared for days that he had seen Satan himself helping the violinist on stage.

Paganini was known to have owned some of the most prestigious violins of his day and collected a myriad of interesting stories about how he won and lost some of his precious violins.

One particular story stands out.

The musician had just stepped on stage to start a particular concert. As the audience greeted the virtuoso with fierce applause, he noticed that there was something wrong with the violin in his hand. He looked at the instrument and realized that he wasn’t holding his best violin.

He excused himself to go backstage and fetch the right instrument and was shocked to find out that his precious Stradivari had been stolen.

After remaining backstage for a while, he stepped onstage again to address the audience. With resolute confidence, Paganini declared: “Ladies and gentlemen, I will now demonstrate to you that the music is not in the instrument but in the soul.” He then rendered a most dramatic piece, bringing the audience to a euphoric standing ovation at the end.

Some Trust in Chariots…

As I read this particular story in the life of the composer, I thought about Psalm 20, written by King David, where he attributed all his successes in battle to God’s strength, not his own. In verse 7, he wrote: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God – Psalm 20:7
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Victory. There’s nothing sweeter than being able to fulfill a dream, win a hard battle, or simply attain success by exercising a God-given gift. There’s nothing quite like it. But I believe that as exciting as some victories can be, they also hold a serious danger.

We may fool ourselves into believing that our success was obtained solely by our own merit and strength, often forgetting that we are recipients of God’s matchless favor and grace. Although we can rightfully say that our hard work, skills, and diligence help us fulfill our goals and dreams, we must never forget that our trust should not rest solely on our resources.

Rather, we must remember to put our trust in something that diseases cannot destroy and circumstantial lack of resources cannot detain – the unchangeable power of a limitless God.

We must remember to put our trust in something that diseases cannot destroy and circumstantial lack of resources cannot detain – the unchangeable power of a limitless God.
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God’s Power and your circumstances

Just as Paganini’s majestic music did not change with an inferior instrument, I’m challenged to remember daily that God’s purposes and His power to fulfill them do not change with life’s circumstances. And just as David acknowledged that his victories were not won by his tangible resources and the strength of his army alone, we must remember to recognize God’s hand and favor in each victory we win.

It’s a personal, deliberate choice, really. And I personally choose not to put my trust in instruments that may get lost or stolen or in horses and chariots to win the battles I face. I choose to trust in the Name of my God, whose character never changes, whose plans for me are perfect, and whose strength in battle is matchless.

Whether I am in the valley or standing on the mountaintop, that truth is always the song of my heart and the strength of my soul.

I personally choose not to put my trust in instruments that may get lost or stolen or in horses and chariots to win the battles I face. I choose to trust in the Name of my God, whose character never changes, whose plans for me are…
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The post My Victories, My Battles – Not Really Mine {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.